Table of contents:
- Causes of sensitive teeth
- The reason for rarely changing toothbrushes can trigger sensitive teeth
- Overcoming and preventing sensitive teeth
If you have sensitive teeth, enjoying your favorite dish can cause pain that will arise in an instant. Annoying, right? Therefore, let's identify the causes of sensitive teeth. Starting from grinding your teeth to rarely changing toothbrushes can trigger sensitive teeth. Also find ways to treat and prevent sensitive teeth that are effective.
Causes of sensitive teeth
Many factors cause you to not be able to enjoy your favorite dishes because of sensitive teeth. This condition occurs because damage to the protective layer, aka tooth enamel, makes it unable to protect the tissue under the teeth, such as dentin and tooth roots.
Tooth roots can also be exposed if the health of the gums decreases, such as receding gums or gingival recession. The drooping gums expose the roots of the teeth so they react to things in the mouth, such as cold and hot foods.
In addition, according to the Cleveland Clinic, other causes include:
- Grind your teeth
- Toothbrush too hard
- Often eat acidic foods so that the protective layer of the teeth is eroded
- Cavity
- Gum disease
Not only that, rarely changing toothbrushes is also one of the factors that can trigger sensitive teeth.
The reason for rarely changing toothbrushes can trigger sensitive teeth
Toothbrushes that are still new certainly have good bristles. Meanwhile, toothbrush bristles that have been used will slowly break down irregularly.
Generally, the bristles of a toothbrush will unravel carelessly after 3 months of use and can be quicker if you brush your teeth too hard. So, how can you rarely replace your toothbrush to cause sensitive teeth?
Rarely changing toothbrushes can trigger sensitive teeth because the ends of the bristles have changed irregularly. According to the United States Dental Association (ADA), toothbrushes that have not been replaced for a long time cannot clean teeth properly.
When teeth are not cleaned properly, plaque can form. The buildup of plaque on the teeth can lead to problems in the teeth, such as cavities and dental caries. As a result, teeth become sensitive.
Furthermore, brush bristles that are no longer suitable for use can endanger the health of the gums. Sourced from the same study, brushing your teeth with a toothbrush with a damaged bristle tip can cause irritation of the gums.
Problems with the gums can expose the roots of the teeth which can directly contribute to the pain caused by sensitive teeth.
Simply put, brushing your teeth with a toothbrush that has not been replaced for a long time makes the results of the toothbrush not optimal. This tends to cause irritation of the gums and the formation of plaque, because the bristles that have been damaged are not able to clean food and drink residue properly. Therefore, rarely changing toothbrushes can trigger sensitive teeth.
Overcoming and preventing sensitive teeth
Sensitive teeth occur for several reasons, such as rarely changing toothbrushes, which can trigger sensitive teeth. However, there is no need to worry because this condition can be overcome and prevented. You do this by:
- Do not brush your teeth too hard in order to minimize erosion of the protective layer of the teeth
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush keeps the risk of irritation low
- Brush your teeth properly
- Avoid grinding your teeth
- Maintain regular oral and dental hygiene
- Replace a damaged toothbrush that can trigger sensitive teeth
The most important thing is to use a special toothpaste when symptoms due to sensitive teeth arise, as published from the Mayo Clinic. The results of the study entitled Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of potassium nitrate desensitizing mouthwash and a toothpaste in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity also stated, sensitive toothpaste made from potassium nitrate proved effective in reducing pain due to sensitive teeth.
After the pain subsides, a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth can still be used as a daily toothpaste because a study has proven its efficacy in blocking dentin ducts. That way, the tissue under the teeth is not exposed to sensitive tooth triggers, such as cold or heat from drinks.
The complementary content of sensitive toothpaste also keeps you from losing the added benefits of toothpaste in general. For example, sensitive toothpaste with mint leaf extract helps protect sensitive teeth while keeping breath fresh. Content potassium nitrate serves to relieve pain or aches due to sensitive teeth. While mint leaf extract keeps your breath fresh for the day.
After taking steps to treat and prevent sensitive teeth, don't forget to check your teeth regularly to the dentist to regularly evaluate your oral health.
