Rust remover an aid for sensitive teeth
A CHEMICAL commonly used as a rust remover may also help tackle sensitive teeth through a sticky patch applied in the same way as whitening strips.
Unlike other anti-sensitivity products, potassium oxalate remains on the teeth and can offer relief for up to one month after a single application.
The pain of sensitive teeth is typically triggered when fluid or food gets into the tiny holes found naturally in the surface of the teeth. Potassium oxalate is thought to work by blocking these holes.
One in ten people has sensitive teeth, also known as dentine hypersensitivity. It causes short bouts of sharp pain that can be triggered by a number of factors, from cold air to food or drinks that are particularly hot, cold or sweet.
Though the pain is short-lasting, it can affect quality of life.
Sensitivity occurs when dentine, a tissue that forms the bulk of a tooth and is similar in composition to bone, is exposed.
Usually it is protected by an outer layer of enamel, but as a result of brushing too hard, gradual erosion from acidic food or ageing, this layer can wear away, exposing tiny holes in dentine that contain nerve fibres.
When exposed, these transmit pain signals.
This most commonly happens at the point where the tooth and the gum meet, because the enamel layer there is much thinner.
Yet the dentine may also be exposed as a result of gum recession, where the gums pull back from the tooth surface, often because of gum disease.
Flouride
This then exposes the root surfaces of the teeth and nerves. Toothpastes or mouth rinses that contain chemical salts and fluoride can help block the tiny tubules to stop trigger substances getting in.
There are also a number of other anti-sensitivity products containing chemicals such as potassium nitrate, which blocks the nerves that transmit pain signals.
The problem is that these products take four weeks to kick in, and people must use them constantly to maintain the relief.
A major advantage of the patch in the new study at Bristol Dental Hospital is that potassium oxalate, a chemical used in industry for removing rust and scale from car radiators and bleaching woods, does not dissolve in the mouth and stays active for up to a month.
Meanwhile, recording a video of yourself while brushing your teeth may help you master the best technique, according to a study in the Indian Journal of Dental Research.
Participants were assessed, then had their teeth-brushing technique corrected and were told to take selfie videos while brushing for two weeks.
Analysing the footage, researchers said the films led to an increase in the number and accuracy of brush strokes, and an 8 percent improvement in tooth-brushing. – Daily Mail