MEDICAL INSIDER
DR. RHODA ENTERO
FOR JULY 23, 2023
TOOTH SENSITIVITY
(Part 3)
We have already discussed the reasons for tooth sensitivity
including its signs and symptoms.
Today, we will tackle the origins of Dentin Hypersensitivity,
We have to know that the enamel is what protects your
teeth and gives it the hard shell that allows it to cut up,
chew, and grind most types of food into digestible chunks.
Beyond this hard, outer layer of your teeth is the dentin,
which is the material that your tooth is primarily made of. It
contains microscopic tubules filled with tiny nerve endings
that allow you to gauge whether what you’re eating is hot or
cold or if you’re biting into something so hard that it’s
damaging your teeth.
The dentin extends down to your tooth root, which in turn is
protected by a cementum layer. The American Dental
Association or ADA claims on its “Mouth Healthy” website
that nerve irritation or dentin hypersensitivity happens when
the dentin loses its enamel shield or cementum layer,
exposing the nerve endings to sweet, acidic, spicy, sticky,
hot, or cold foods. You’ll be having sharp pangs of pain
every time you eat ice cream or drink wine.
Some factors that contribute to tooth sensitivity include the
following:
- Brushing Too Hard: You can have or do much of a good
thing such that you’ve gone overboard with it. Don’t brush
your teeth with too much force because it can cause the
enamel covering to wear down from sheer friction and effort.
Avoid using hard-bristle toothbrushes that can damage the
outer shell or tear up your gums, thus exposing the dentin or
cementum underneath. - Teeth Whitening: When you bleach your clothes, you
should be aware that leaving them soaking in bleach for too
long frays the threads, leaving them threadbare when push
comes to shove. The same thing happens to enamel when
you attempt to whiten it with a tooth-whitening bleach. This
is why many people anecdotally report that their teeth have
become sensitive after undergoing the procedure. However,
the latest teeth whitening gels have addressed this problem
by reducing their peroxide concentration. - Gum Disease: Inflamed gum tissue pulls away from your
teeth, leaving vulnerable areas like the cementum layer and
the tooth root exposed to nerve-wracking stimuli from spicy
to sweet food as well as hot or cold beverages. You could
be suffering from mild and treatable gingivitis to expensive
periodontitis, thus requiring deep cleaning or scaling.