With the help of the best dentist in Delhi, we analyze everything that has to do with dental sensitivity, what are its causes and how to prevent this typical daily problem of oral health.
What is dentin hypersensitivity?
Dental sensitivity – which can also be called hypersensitivity or dentinal sensitivity – is defined as a short and acute pain that appears on the teeth in response to a thermal stimulation (cold or heat), tactile (food, tongue, toothbrush ), evaporative (sweet foods) and cannot be attributed to any other pathology or dental defect.
Who is affected?
Dental hypersensitivity affects between 15% and 25% of the general population, although women and people between 20 and 40 are the ones who present this problem most frequently.
In addition, it is more common for affectation to appear in premolar teeth and canines, although hypersensitivity can manifest itself in any tooth of the oral cavity.
What are the causes of dental hypersensitivity?
The short and acute pain of dentinal hypersensitivity is usually caused by:
- Wear of tooth enamel, caused, in turn, by:
- Aggressive brushing: causes the gum to be removed and also the loss of root cement (a special bone tissue of the tooth), causing exposure of the dentinal tubules (ducts that run through the dentin or layer that surrounds the inner part of the teeth).
- Bruxism (an involuntary act of clenching teeth).
- Dental malocclusions (when the upper and lower arches of the mouth do not fit).
- Very acidic diets (fruit juices, yogurts, soft drinks, etc.), followed by immediate brushing.
- Gingival retraction (loss of gum), which leaves dentin exposed to the oral cavity. It can appear by:
- Periodontal diseases (periodontitis): they present a loss of the support tissues of the tooth (gum, root cement, and alveolar bone), causing greater exposure of the root surface, that is, of the root.
- Aggressive brushing.
- Dental malocclusions.
- Dental fractures
- Defective fillings.
- Untreated caries.
- Teeth whitening treatments: episodes of dentinal sensitivity may arise which, in most cases and with the appropriate treatment, are reversible.
How does it develop?
Dentin, which is the inner layer of the teeth, is composed of a large number of dental tubules (ducts) that connect the nerve of the tooth (dental pulp) with the cement of the root or with the enamel of the crown of the teeth. When the loss or wear of these tissues occurs, for reasons that we have mentioned above, it results in the exposure of the tubules to the oral cavity and they become more sensitive to any stimulus that occurs there, thus triggering the painful response.
Likewise, in patients with dentinal hypersensitivity, there are a greater amount of open and larger diameter dentinal tubules.
Are there risk factors for dental hypersensitivity?
In relation to the causes of this problem, the main risk factors for dental hypersensitivity are:
- An aggressive brushing: as we have mentioned, it can cause the exposure of the dentinal tubules.
- An acidic diet, followed by immediate brushing, makes the tooth enamel not have time to recover, so it can be damaged more easily.
- Periodontal disease: because it can lead to greater exposure of the tooth root.
- The use of hard toothbrushes: since they cause periodontal soft tissue trauma.
What complications entails dentinal hypersensitivity?
The worst consequence of tooth sensitivity is related to the limitations it can cause in the daily life of patients; Some of them may suffer from hypersensitivity so exaggerated as to cause discomfort even when breathing.
Normally, most people are affected because they find limitations at mealtimes, especially with cold and acidic foods, as well as in their oral hygiene, because brush brushing on the affected location can cause pain and cause that the patient avoids brushing that area.
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of dentin hypersensitivity is clinical, based on the symptomatology of the patient. Tests of:
- Pulp vitality: allows assessing whether in certain teeth there is a greater sensitivity to stimuli of temperature change with respect to other teeth.
- Hypersensitivity by pressure stimuli: clinical examination can be used to detect more localized areas of sensitivity.
Likewise, a differential diagnosis must be made with other pathologies, such as deep caries that may be causing pulpal pathologies. In some cases, x-rays may be indicated to rule out lesions of interproximal caries (caries in the interdental spaces).
How is dental hypersensitivity treated?
There are two lines of treatment for dentinal sensitivity:
- Occlusion of the dentinal tubules: the treatment is based on closing the tubules that are present in the thickness of the dentin and that communicate with the pulp, which reduces the movement of the fluid contained inside. To achieve this occlusion, numerous agents are used, which can be applied in dental practice (laser, adhesive techniques, fluoride varnishes, etc.) or by the patient himself (dentifrices, mouthwashes or gels) as part of daily oral care. The effectiveness of these agents depends on their ability to adhere to the dentinal surface and to resist the erosive action of acids, so it is advisable to use them repeatedly.
- Intervention on the nerve fibers in the dental pulp: it is about achieving a depolarization effect, which is achieved with products such as potassium salts. This line of treatment is slower and the results take longer to notice, so this technique can be used to maintain the results obtained after an acute phase of occlusion.
10 tips to prevent dental hypersensitivity
1. Maintain proper oral hygiene.
Use a medium or soft-hard brush, either manual or electric, and renew it every three months to avoid losing its effectiveness. The brushing technique must be adequate, making movements of the brush vertically and not horizontally.
2. Don’t forget your floss.
Flossing is as important as brushing teeth. It will help you prevent gum infections, eliminating the remains of food that remain in the interdental spaces or that are difficult to access for the toothbrush.
3. Choose your toothpaste well.
Opt for a toothpaste with a low abrasiveness index to avoid the wear of tooth enamel and complement it with a good mouthwash, it will help you reduce tooth sensitivity.
4. Follow proper dietary habits.
Avoid excessive consumption of acidic foods, such as squash, olives and some fruits such as blackberries and blueberries. If you swallow them, wait at least twenty minutes to brush your teeth, so you will have time for the tooth enamel to recover from the aggression, thanks to the saliva buffer effect.
5. Avoid drinking hot and cold drinks and food.
Sudden changes in temperature increase tooth sensitivity and inflame the nerves inside your teeth, causing inflammation and pain.
6. Stop smoking.
Tobacco is directly related to the retraction or loss of the gums, being able to develop dental hypersensitivity and other oral pathologies such as gingivitis or the appearance of caries.
7. Do not misuse your teeth.
Biting pens or pencils, cutting objects or pulling items with your teeth will accelerate their wear and the development of oral diseases.
8. Use splints if you suffer bruxism.
The involuntary act of clenching your teeth can wear your teeth and cause tooth sensitivity, also leading to problems in the jaw joint.
9. Do not fall into false myths to whiten your teeth.
The application of baking soda and lemon juice on the teeth is not a magnificent method of whitening as popularly believed, but quite the opposite; Both products are very harmful to tooth enamel, causing the appearance of dentine hypersensitivity.
10. Consult your dentist in Delhi before the appearance of dentine hypersensitivity.
Your dentist in Delhi, after diagnosis according to your case, will determine the most appropriate treatment and rule out the presence of other pathologies. If you suffer from dental attritions (wear) or malocclusions (poor placement of these) you should receive orthodontic treatment.