Dr. S K Upadhyay

On drinking cold water or a sip of tea or coffee makes you uneasy or eating ice-cream or yoghurt is a nightmare, you may have a common problem known as “sensitive teeth.”

Various causes of sensitivity in teeth include:

1. Forceful brushing of teeth – it is the most common cause of tooth sensitivity. It causes thinning of the protective layer on our teeth that is enamel. Enamel protects our teeth against insult from food or fluids we take. Loss of enamel leads to sensitivity of teeth

Remedy:
• Gentle brushing of teeth
• Use soft bristle brush
• Change brush after 3- 6 months ( as the bristles wear away)
• Use little toothpaste ( toothpaste has abrasive particles which causes
wear away of enamel)
• Do brushing in up-down movement


2. Tooth decay – caries in tooth leads to tooth sensitivity. Caries remove the protective enamel layer exposing dentine layer to food and fluids. Dentine carries nerves which causes sensitivity

Remedy: Treatment involves removal of tooth decay and placement of
protective barrier on dentine that is a filling material

3. Old tooth fillings – over a period of time fillings may crack or break or get removed which leads to sensitivity.

Remedy: Change of filling in tooth

4. Exposed tooth roots- as a result of aggressive tooth brushing, gum recession and gum disease. It causes tooth sensitivity.

Remedy
• Use soft bristle brush
• Visit your dentist for gum disease treatment

5. Plaque and calculus - the purpose of brushing is to remove plaque that forms after eating food. An excessive build-up of plaque can cause your enamel to wear away. Again, your teeth can become more sensitive as they lose their enamel protection.

Remedy: The solution is to practice good daily dental care and visit your
dentist for cleanings every six months.

6. Habit of eating acidic foods -fruits like lemon, sweet lime, pickles and tomato juice contains acid which can dissolve enamel of teeth. Frequent use of acidic food causes tooth sensitivity.

7. Habit of tooth-grinding – grinding also cause tooth sensitivity due to loss of enamel.


Tooth sensitivity is treatable. You must have seen toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. However, toothpaste can only help limited no. of patient’s suffering from tooth sensitivity.

If your sensitivity is extreme and persists no matter what you do, please visit your dentist for an oral examination. Visit to dental specialist can determine the most likely cause of your tooth sensitivity and the best solution for your particular condition. I Hope this article will help you.

Use of retainers is necessary to successfully retain the teeth in its final position. They are different kinds of retainers and it depends on the individual.

Rough inner surface of the bridge leads to accumulation of plaque and calculus underneath the Bridge this leads to chronic irritation on the surface of gums and can lead to exposure of supporting tooth. So the best option in your case would be seeing your dentist again and tell him the problem that you are facing. Your dentist might consider taking out the bridge and to see the problem.

Kindly consult a dentist in person for further suggestion. We need more investigations with clinical examination to decide upon treatment. You may need root canal treatment. Until then apply clove oil on the decayed tooth. Rinse frequently with mouth wash. Advise c. Amox 500mg 1-1-1, thrice daily, t. Metrogyl 400mg 1-1-1, thrice daily, t. Imol 1-1-1, thrice daily (contraindicated in conditions with gastric ulcer, asthma, wheezing, allergy), c. Becosules 1-0-0 once daily all for 3 days only. Advance procedures can be done with laser. Dental tips: - visit a dentist every six months for cleaning and a thorough dental check-up. Limit sugary food to avoid tooth decay. Gargle your mouth thoroughly after every meal. Scrub gently to clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner. Floss all your teeth inter dentally & brush twice daily, morning & night, up & down short vertical strokes, with ultra-soft bristles, indicator brush. Tooth brush to be changed every 2 months.

Please take pain killer and then visit to a dentist for proper treatment because your teeth would be affected with deep caries.

You can exercise for healthier gums as well. Gently bite down so as to make sure that your teeth make a clinking sound when they meet. Repeat this 30 to 40 times continously. This exercise will stimulate the flow of blood and will keep your gums healthy.

Hi lybrate-user. After tooth removal you have to wait for at least 4-5 days for smoking. If you ll do smoking on same day then there might be possibility of' dry socket. It is a condition of unbearable pain.

Calcium is required for COLLAGEN formation. thus it is important to have sufficient CALCIUM in diet for healthy GUMS AND TEETH

Teeth sensitivity is a result of loss of outer most layer (enamel) of teeth. That can be due to: - tooth grinding - acidic beverages (such as soda) that cause enamel erosion and dentin exposure. - brushing with a very abrasive toothpaste, brushing incorrectly and/or brushing more than three times a day could result in a loss of enamel. - a chipped or fractured tooth may expose the dentin. Here are few steps to avoid sensitivity of teeth: - practice good oral hygiene. - use a sensitivity toothpaste like sensodyne. - don't brush too hard. - use a softer toothbrush. - take care while consuming acidic foods. - use fluoridated dental products. - avoid grinding your teeth. - see your dentist regularly for professional tooth cleaning, dental care recommendations and advice on treating your sensitive teeth.