It is a brief but intense pain whose frequency is not negligible and has been proven to increase between 30-40 years of age.
Tooth sensitivity is a warning sign of an underlying problemeither the loss of enamel that covers the crown of the tooth, or a retraction of the gum that leaves part of the root of the tooth exposed, as explained by Dr. Óscar Castro Reino, president of the General Council of Dentists, during an interview with Infosalus.
Thus, it says that when the dentin loses its enamel or cementum protection (in the root) a nerve irritation of the dentin, which causes pain when eating very cold, hot or acidic foods. Specifically, it points out that the data on the prevalence of tooth sensitivity are extremely variable and depend, in part, on the methodology used to collect the information.
“In surveys in which it is the patient themselves who reports tooth sensitivity, the figures are 35-40%. However, when the data comes from examinations carried out by dentists, these figures are reduced to 15-20%. In any case, Its frequency is not negligible and has been proven to increase between 30-40 years of age. Likewise, in certain patients, for example, those who have undergone certain periodontal treatments, the frequency of sensitivity is greater,” describes Dr. Castro.
But, What is dental sensitivity due to? The president of the General Council of Dentists explains that, precisely, the ultimate cause of dental sensitivity has caused some controversy among scientists although, of all the theories that have been proposed, the most accepted is the so-called ‘hydrodynamic theory’: “ Dentin, the most abundant tissue in the tooth, is made up of tubules filled with fluid. When the dentin loses its enamel protection, or the gum recedes, leaving it exposed to the oral environment, certain stimuli such as cold, heat, acid or physical pressure (for example, from brushing) cause an alteration in the fluid of the teeth. tubules which gives rise to an excitation of nerve receptors in the dentin, which translates into pain.”
Most of them are temporary
However, the dentist clarifies that Most dental sensitivities are temporary, that is, they occur as a consequence of certain stimuli that cause pain, so that they disappear when the stimulus stops. “However, this fact does not mean that the patient should not do anything, because tooth sensitivity is very annoying for those who suffer from it and There are relatively simple treatments to improve it. Some of them disappear over time, but they are the minority, since it takes many years for the dentin itself to develop a protective barrier to those stimuli that cause it,” adds the expert.
Even so, Dr. Castro Reino emphasizes that any patient with dental sensitivity should consult a dentist. “First of all, to be able to make the proper diagnosis and know the reason for its origin,” he adds. Specifically, he lists that there are several causes that can give rise to sensitivity: from a incorrect brushing technique (excessive pressure force too hard brush), certain acidic foods and drinkssome dental treatments (for example, periodontal surgery), the dental bruxism (teeth grinding), or even some diseases such as gastric reflux, anorexia, or bulimia.
With this, he highlights that it is important to also attend a consultation so that the dentist can rule out other pathologies (such as certain cavities), which also cause sensitivity. “Once diagnosed, the dentist will be able to treat it and give the patient the appropriate recommendations so that it does not occur again,” she points out.
Of course, once tooth sensitivity appears, the expert recognizes that “little” What we can do to avoid this acute pain, except immediately suspend the stimulus that caused it. “If the sensitivity has been due to a cold, hot or acidic food or drink, consumption should be suspended until consulting a dentist and in the meantime switch to food or drinks at room temperature. If the pain has occurred during brushing, we should immediately avoid applying pressure to that specific area and switch to a soft brush until it is explored by the dentist. Habitually, the pain is of short duration, although intense”, he points out.
In this context, the president of the dentists emphasizes that preventing tooth sensitivity involves trying avoid the causes that originate it. “One of the causes is the so-called erosion. It is due to the moderate consumption of acidic foods or drinks that damage the enamel. Special care must be taken with carbonated drinks that, in addition to being sugary, are acidic. Another relatively common cause is of mechanical origin: an inadequate brushing technique, using a brush with hard filaments, or bruxism, for example,” he details.
Therefore, Dr. Castro emphasizes that preventing sensitivity involves controlling certain aspects of the diet (acids), adopting an adequate brushing technique, without excessive pressure and with filament brushes of medium or low hardness, and correcting the bruxism.
“Again, it will be the professional who, determining the cause of the sensitivity, will specifically advise on how to prevent it. In the treatment of sensitivity, certain products called desensitizers are usually used, such as some fluorides (calcium or tin fluoride), as well as potassium derivatives (potassium nitrate or potassium chloride), as well as adhesive resins,” he concludes.