What is worse than not being able to eat your favorite ice cream or drink cold coffee? Almost everyone has faced this issue at least once in their lives. If you are an adult, the chances are greater than once. The most common and easy solution for sensitive teeth is using a desensitizing toothpaste. But only if you are lucky enough, it will control the pain and evade it forever. That is why it is important to know why is this sensitivity caused? How does desensitizing toothpaste work? And what to look for before buying a trustworthy toothpaste for sensitive teeth? In this article, we will answer each of these questions comprehensively.
Why Do You Get Sensitive Teeth?
Tooth sensitivity is caused by more than one factor. Some of those dealing with your personal care, while others could only be looked after by your dentist. Here is the list:
The most common cause of sensitivity in teeth is plaque formation. Thanks to all the food and beverages that we eat that can cause plaque and bacteria build-up. This build-up gets thicker with time if food stays there. It attacks and erodes your enamel, exposing your dentin layer underneath. This is where pain and suffering begins.
Just like not enough brushing can lead to tooth decay and dentin exposure, failure to proper flossing can do the same. When you take breaks from regular flossing, gums get infected and recede. Tooth sensitivity, among other consequences, is the leading aftermath of gum recession.
- Eating Too Much Acidic/Sugary Foods
Bad news for you. Your favorite candies, cookies, and fruit juices are bad for your teeth as they are high in sugar. Similarly, all the citrus and juicy fruits you consume are acidic. All of this food can lead to plaque formation and sensitivity.
Feeling sensitivity in a tooth you got a dental restoration placed previously is the last thing you would like to believe about your teeth. Your tooth feeling may get chipped off, cracked, or deteriorated with time leading to exposed dentin. It can be caused by trapped food particles, damaged edges, and lower quality fillings.
How Do Sensitivity Toothpastes Do It?
There are two ways the trustworthy toothpaste will solve your sensitivity problem. one by covering up your exposed dentinal tubules. Second, by desensitizing the nerve endings in the dentinal tubule. This is done by the fluoride component that is known for preventing tooth decay and strengthening tooth enamel. Additionally, sensitive toothpaste creates a protection shield around sensitive teeth. This shield kills the source of sensitivity even before it causes considerable damage.
What to Look for in Sensitivity Toothpaste?
When you decide to take care of your sensitive tooth and visit a drug store, you are welcomed by a large variety of companies making overwhelming claims. To make sure you do not end up in this confusing situation, here is the buyer’s guide that will help you through.
Do not fall for the packaging and stickers, read the ingredients section, and look for the number of active ingredients that are actually responsible for solving the sensitivity problem.
ADA seal indicates that the product has been approved by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs after it has demonstrated efficiency and provided required scientific evidence. A toothpaste with this approval will not need to be tested again for its claim of quality.
If it comes from a well-known manufacturer, it is going to have a built trust to build from. Select a good brand and try to stick with it.
Concluding Thoughts
The sensitivity of teeth can give you a very bad and uncomfortable day. The right choice at this time would be to get yourself a trustworthy desensitizing toothpaste that will help minimize your tooth sensitivity and restore your quality of life.
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