Is Dentin Hypersensitivity Serious?
If untreated, dentin hypersensitivity alters the quality of life. Patients have to put up with frequent discomfort. For this reason, preventing or diagnosing the condition at its early stages is crucial to saving patients from lifelong pain.
Causes of Dentin Hypersensitivity
Dentin hypersensitivity results from dentin exposure. The exposure itself occurs when receding gums expose teeth roots. Unlike the crown, roots don’t have an enamel for protection. Instead, they have tubules that link the tooth to the nerves. When these tubules interact with stimuli like hot and cold foods, chemical acids, etc., you experience an intense sensation called dentin hypersensitivity.
Risk Factors
Here are several factors that may increase the risk of dentin hypersensitivity.
Aggressive Brushing
Applying too much force when brushing your teeth can erode the enamel that protects your teeth. Over time, this exposes the nerves and tubules, increasing the risk of sensitivity.
Fractured Teeth
Chipped and cracked teeth are more vulnerable to bacterial infections. When bacteria penetrate the enamel, they inflame the pulp and cause hypersensitivity.
Gum Recession
Gingivitis and periodontitis cause gum recession if left untreated for extended periods. As mentioned above, a recession is a prequel to hypersensitivity.
Grinding of Teeth
Involuntary grinding of teeth, also known as bruxism, damages the enamel and increases the risk of sensitivity.
Overusing Whitening Products
Tooth whitening products like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide contain abrasive agents that can weaken the enamel. In addition, overusing whiteners can expose nerve endings, resulting in sensitivity.
Mouthwashes also increase the risk of sensitivity, as they contain acids that erode the enamel. These acids can also accentuate hypersensitivity.
Poor Oral Habits
Failing to observe proper oral hygiene causes plaque accumulation. These provide conducive conditions for bacteria, which cause hypersensitivity.
Other habits that make you more vulnerable to dentin hypersensitivity include smoking, drinking alcohol, and consuming acidic and spicy foods.
Some Dental Procedures
Dental procedures like crowning, scaling, and tooth fillings cause sensitivity. However, the painful sensation usually fades four to six weeks after the process.
Diagnosis of Dentin Hypersensitivity
It isn’t easy to diagnose dentin hypersensitivity, as it’s a diagnosis of exclusion. The doctor only concludes by ruling out all other possible explanations for the pain.
During the examination, the dentist will require a detailed patient history. The assessment involves a pain provocation test, where the doctor blasts air or scratches the affected area with a dental probe.
If the provocation test returns a negative test, the doctor rules out dentin hypersensitivity. Instead, they look for different possibilities, such as other causes of orofacial pain.
Treatment of Dentin Hypersensitivity
After diagnosis, the doctor will suggest the following treatment methods.
Removing Risk Factors
The first method of treating sensitivity is to remove the risk factors. The dentist will recommend using gentle brushing techniques, restricting acidic foods, and regulating the use of mouthwashes and whitening products.
Using Desensitising Agents
Desensitising nerve fibres block neural transmission and relieve patients of hypersensitivity-related painful sensations. Others treat the condition by stimulating tubular occlusion.
You can use desensitising agents at home or visit your dentist. The former is usually the first step for treating mild to moderate sensitivity affecting several teeth. In-office treatments deal with severe and localised hypersensitivity affecting a few teeth.
Home Treatment
Home treatment for sensitivity involves purchasing over-the-counter desensitising chewing gum, mouthwashes, and toothpaste. These products contain arginine, calcium carbonate, calcium sodium phosphosilicate, hydroxyapatite, and strontium chloride, compounds that block neural transmission and relieve pain.
Potassium-containing products can reduce the sensitivity to certain stimuli, but their efficacy subsides when you rinse the mouth. This applies to toothpaste, mouthwashes, and chewing gum.
Dentists consider Nano-hydroxyapatite one of the industry’s most biocompatible and bioactive inventions. Studies indicate that this compound has similar properties to the natural building blocks of enamel. In addition, due to its size, it helps occlude exposed dentin tubules and enhance enamel restoration. For this reason, more manufacturers are adding Nano-hydroxyapatite to their desensitising products.
Another new technology that treats dentin hypersensitivity through tubular occlusion is Bioglass. It consists of calcium sodium phosphosilicate, a bioactive glass used in repairing periodontal defects, blood loss control, bone grafting, stimulating vascular regeneration, etc. GlaxoSmithKline owns the technology.
In-office Treatments
Here, the dentist applies materials to seal the exposed dentin tubules or recommends wearing mouthguards during sleep to prevent sensitivity caused by involuntary teeth grinding.
Common sealing materials include fissure sealants, glass ionomers, and resin. These cover the tubules and protect them against external stimuli. In severe cases, the dentist uses highly concentrated fluoride varnish on the affected area to reduce the intensity of the pain.
How to Prevent Dentin Hypersensitivity
Like most dental complications, the best way to prevent hypersensitivity is to observe proper dental hygiene. Brush your teeth at a minimum twice and floss daily. This prevents plaque buildup, reduces the risk of tooth decay, and prevents sensitivity.
It’s also helpful to avoid consuming acidic foods that erode the enamel. If you must, ensure that you drink a lot of water after eating to rinse the acid and prevent erosion of the enamel.
Always replace your toothbrush every three months. Overusing a toothbrush hardens its bristles, damaging the enamel when cleaning your teeth. More importantly, use the toothbrush gently.
Lastly, be careful about whitening products. They contain abrasive agents that deteriorate the enamel and increase the risk of sensitivity.
Wrapping Up
Dentin hypersensitivity is a painful condition that affects the quality of life. Contracting limits the foods and drinks you can eat, makes brushing uncomfortable, and can interfere with breathing. The perfect way to prevent these problems is to observe proper dental hygiene. Also, visit your dentist every six months – the disease is easier and cheaper to treat if detected early.
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