Habits that put you at risk of teeth sensitivity
Mr George Okeke suffered from teeth sensitivity for some months before help came his way. He described the feeling as a painful and shock-like sensation.
When he could no longer bear the pain, he visited a dentist and he was told that his teeth sensitivity was caused by wrong brushing. He was then taught how to brush his teeth properly to minimise it.
“It does work every now and then except when I consistently take cold stuff,” he said.
A dental surgeon with Nene Dental Clinic, Abuja, Dr Callistus Iwalome, said teeth sensitivity simply means the reaction of the teeth to air, cold water, sometimes juice (sweet or acidic), fruits or sugar with chilling sensation that can become uncomfortable which some patients refer to as pain.
“If you experience pain or discomfort when consuming foods or beverages that is hot, cold, sweet, or sour; when brushing or flossing; or even when breathing sharp, cold air, you may have sensitive teeth,” he said.
Dr Inwalome said teeth sensitivity is caused by the following: wrong techniques of brushing, using hard tooth brush, attrition which means chewing hard food like bone - teeth grinding, ageing, and certain professions, among others, adding that when the enamel wears out, there would be sensitivity.
He said to prevent teeth sensitivity, one has to first of all understand the causes. “For example, if you are the type that uses hard brush, you need to stop it; you can also learn the right technique of brushing, and avoid drinking too cold or hot water and so on. If some of these habits are dealt with, it will help,” he said.
He said: “For instance, for most adults who are above 40 years and complain of sensitivity, we observed that their gums are worn out due to wrong techniques of brushing. For such people, you have to advise them to change their technique of brushing because the gums are supposed to cover the sensitive part of the teeth. When you brush wrongly and then they are exposed, the teeth become sensitive.”
He said attrition can be a major cause of teeth sensitivity, adding that those who eat a lot of hard things such as bone or chew hard things can have teeth sensitivity. “When they wear out the surface called the enamel, the teeth become exposed. For such people, you may have to desensitize the tooth.”
The surgeon said the condition can be managed, adding that in worst cases, when the tooth is very sensitive and other measures don’t work, capping for the tooth is done by covering it with a new body called the “Crown” so that it is no longer sensitive to external irritations.”
Dr Iwalome advised those that already have teeth sensitivity to commence the use of desensitizing toothpaste. He said it was advisable for them to visit a dental practitioner so that they can know the cause.
The dentist said it is important to change our brush twice or thrice a year and to also cultivate the habit of brushing twice daily.
Another dental surgeon with Wuse District Hospital, Abuja, Dr Albert Ahkidenor, described teeth sensitivity as a dental pain that usually results when the dentine, a part of the teeth, is exposed.
He explained that the tooth has three parts - enamel, dentine and pulp. “Anything that touches the dentine would trigger a short sharp pain. It is usually caused by stimuli, which could be a cold, hot or sweet thing; or acidic like oranges,” he said.
He said prevention is multi-factorial: “You have to be mindful of your habits. For instance, for those that use very hard toothbrushes that destroy the enamel covering the tooth when the enamel is destroyed, the dentine becomes exposed and there is sensitivity. For some, the hard toothbrushes could destroy the gums that cover the root of the tooth. When the gum is destroyed, the root of the tooth is exposed and there is sensitivity.”
According to him, when a person takes something very cold then takes another that is very hot, the temperature changes would affect the structure of the enamel as it becomes weak or could leak. “We should avoid extremes of temperature,” he added.
He advised the use of soft or medium bristle brush and proper brushing for everybody to maintain healthy teeth.
Dr Ahkidenor added that teeth sensitivity in some people could also be caused by trauma such as accident or grinding of teeth. Other factors include ageing and certain professions. “Some professions expose people to sensitivity. For instance, people who charge batteries cut cables with their teeth as some of these contain chemicals.
“Even mechanics who suck fuel with their mouth, that could destroy the teeth; anything that would destroy the teeth would destroy the enamel first. When the enamel is exposed, the dentine gets exposed and it results in sensitivity,” he said.
He said smoking, and those that use their teeth to cut things and open soft drinks could be exposed to sensitivity.
The dentist said people should try to see a dentist at least twice a year.
He said that no matter how hard people brush, there are stains that cannot be removed adding that is where professional care comes into play. “Your dentist would do general cleaning for you called “scaling and polishing,” he said.