Dr. Anup Belludi

Dental problems can be very painful and take the smile off your face completely. Those who have experienced sensitivity would vouch for it. It just will not allow you to enjoy the hot coffee or a favourite sweet or a cold smoothie.  The pain that shoots down the tooth after any of these would leave the person shuddering.

The tooth has 3 layers, from the outside in these are the enamel, the dentin and the pulp. The outermost enamel is mineralized and the hardest structure in the body. The next layer, dentin, has fine tubules and when the enamel is worn off exposing the dentin, sensitivity sets in. The enamel is thinner in some portions of the tooth like the neck and the roots, therefore sensitivity onset is quicker in these areas.

Some of the common reasons for sensitivity are listed below:

1. Tooth decay:  As caries progresses from enamel to dentin, sensitivity sets in, especially to hot and cold foods.
2. Wear and tear:  Excessive brushing of teeth can lead to wearing of teeth, especially near the neck areas, leading to loss of enamel and resulting in sensitivity.
3. Dental damage:  Chipped or broken tooth can lead to sensitivity.
4. Gingival disease: This leads to loss of gum cover over the tooth, leading to exposure of dentin and therefore sensitivity.
5. Bruxism: Clenching of teeth, common in people with high levels of stress, can lead to enamel wearing and subsequent sensitivity.
6. Dental treatment: Some dental procedures like scaling, crowns, root planing, and some fillings can cause transient sensitivity.
7. Highly acidic food items: Citrus fruits, tomatoes, tea, etc. can lead to tooth sensitivity.
8. Bleaching agents:  Most tooth whitening agents result in sensitive teeth.
9. Excessive use of mouthwash: The mouth rinses contain high amount of alcohol which can also lead to tooth sensitivity.

Management: As with all health conditions, the first step in management is to identify the problem.  Whether it is dental decay or recent dental treatment, food habits or tooth whitening agents, the cause needs to be identified and then treatment begun accordingly.

1. For lost enamel, be it decay or damage, the tooth again needs to be restored to its original form to cover the dentinal tubules and reduce sensitivity.
2. For habits, be it food related or bruxism, in addition to treating the tooth, the habit per se needs to be addressed to prevent recurrence.
3. For associated dental products like whitening agents or mouth rinses, talk to a dentist to switch to a less harmful product.
4. De-sensitizing pastes are also available that can be used on a regular basis to reduce the problem.

Tooth sensitivity is annoying, but there are ways to manage it effectively, please get in touch with your dentist, today!

The mere thought of biting into something crunchy brings a refreshing thought. However, realize that crunchy things are not always good for general health and oral health. While some crunchy foods can be very good for the teeth, others can do a great deal of harm.

Given that crunchy foods are something more popular with kids, they should be taught the good and bad about crunchy foods. That does not mean they are banned from eating any bad crunchy food. There are ways to reduce the effects of eating a bad crunchy food and the children should be taught those early on.

Let us look at the bad crunchy foods first. A packet of chips or crackers may sound extremely exciting for the kid, but they are very damaging to the teeth. Pieces of these stick to the teeth and in-between the teeth, thereby attracting germs and causing decay.

Candies are the next lot. They contain a great amount of sugar that does not leave the mouth after the candy is swallowed. The sugar stays long after the candy is out of the mouth and continues to cause damage.

In both these cases, the child should not be told not to eat. The trick is to teach them that while they can eat these, it should immediately be followed by a brushing session or a thorough rinse if brushing is not possible. Get them into the habit of a thorough rinse after each meal and no crunchy food can produce the same damage.

Good Crunchy Foods: The vegetables and fruits are undoubtedly the best crunchy foods to bite into. Not only are they good for overall health with their rich fiber content and vitamins, they also have a great benefit for the oral health. Any fruit from apple to a pear induces salivary glands and increases the cleansing effect of the saliva. The natural fibers also produce the same effect as does brushing for a couple of minutes. The teeth surfaces are freed of plaque and bacteria, thereby reducing the chances of tooth decay. Carrots and celery also contain vitamin A, which is good for healthy tooth structure. They also are rich in water and provide good amount of water for the body. Another good crunchy food is popcorn, which not just is light on the stomach, but also has a good amount of fiber.

The next time you need something crunchy to bite on, take a decision. What you might munch into can have a lot of effect both on your overall health and your teeth. Also, watch your children and teach them how to nullify the bad effects.

There are Obvious differences between men and women. But what you may not realize is that these differences extend into the world of dentistry and oral health as well. For instance, did you know that women are more likely to visit their dentist regularly, while men are more prone to visit only when something needs attention?Read on to discover more interesting facts about the differing oral health habits of men and women.Women brush more than men on average, women are over 8% more likely to brush their teeth twice every day than men are. 

Men skip brushing here and there while women prove to be more vigilant about their brushing habits. Women are also nearly 10% more likely than men to brush their teeth immediately after eating meals.Men put themselves at more risk than women. When it comes to keeping your mouth and overall health in check, there are certain things you should just stay away from. 

Chewing tobacco products, smoking cigarettes, over-consumption of alcohol, and exposing yourself to other carcinogens are extremely harmful activities that can result in many health issues, including oral cancer. 

Men are more likely than women to consume these kinds of carcinogenic products and do so at higher rates than women, which means they are more at risk of developing oral cancer, gum disease, and other health issues.

Women see the dentist more often Women are more likely than men to visit their dentist and, while they are there, make a future or follow-up appointment that they intend to keep. It’s been proven that men often visit their dental professionals only when it is absolutely necessary and therefore receive far fewer dental checkups and cleanings than women.Men experience more dental issues Because women are generally more proactive regarding maintaining their oral health and see their dentist regularly, they on average experience fewer dental issues such as gum disease, tartar buildup, and bleeding gums when compared to men. 

Often, oral diseases show very few warning signs that can be identified by someone who is not a dental professional. As men don’t necessarily see their dentist as regularly for screenings, problems such as gum disease, oral cancer, decay, and other oral health issues can sometimes go unnoticed until the disease has undergone advanced stages. For this reason, men have been proven to be more likely than women to develop these issues. This is why being vigilant about receiving regular dental checkups is essential in ensuring your ongoing health.Women often experience sudden spikes in oral issues 

As only women go through pregnancy and menopause, women of course experience more concentrated elevation and changes in general in hormones. This spiking of hormones can cause changes in oral health with nearly 75% of women developing gingivitis while expecting, and with some experiencing Burning Mouth Syndrome while going through menopause. Increased visits to the dentist during these times is a great way to keep oral health in check and have any concerns dealt with before they develop into larger issues. 

Men experience more tooth trauma It’s been proven that, in general, more men play sports that involve intense physical contact with other players such as tackle football, rugby, water polo, wrestling, and boxing. This greatly increases their chances of colliding with other people or sports equipment and chipping, cracking, or losing teeth altogether. 

These chances increase even more when coupled with the fact that men are less likely than women to wear mouth-guards or other protective gear when playing these activities. Having a mouth-guard fitted or buying one from a local pharmacy is the best way to protect teeth and jaw bones from damage like this.