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Moving From Sydney to Perth
Moving to Perth I had to find a dentist and walked into Duncraig Dental Care as I was passing.
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Sensitive Teeth

Do you suffer from sensitive teeth due to your gums receding?

 

 

 

Sometimes the necks of certain teeth can become quite sensitive and uncomfortable to things like hot or cold temperatures, sweet and sour foods and tactile stimulation from tooth brushing or finger probing. Usually this is due to receding gums which have exposed the root surface of the tooth. The root surface is not protected by the outer tooth enamel layer and is quite a porous surface

The use of desensitizing toothpastes such as ‘Sensodyne’ or ‘Thermodent’ or ‘Colgate Sensitive’ is a very simple and effective way of overcoming this problem.

After thoroughly brushing and flossing all your teeth each night have a good rinse to get rid of any toothpaste. You can use your normal toothpaste for doing this if you want. Squeeze a small bead of desensitising toothpaste on to your finger and then rub it directly on to the exposed root surface of the affected tooth for several minutes

Spit out any excess desensitizing toothpaste but do not rinse your mouth for at least 5 minutes if you can help it. If you find you start dribbling keep a tissue handy which you can dribble or spit into but do not rinse out with water. This is necessary in order for the desensitising toothpaste to have sufficient time to be absorbed by the porous root surface before it is washed away. After 5 minutes or so you can rinse out if you want.

Desensitising toothpastes work by blocking up the root surface porosities that allow transmission of the cold or sweet stimulus etc through to the nerve inside the tooth. You may find that you need to do this treatment 4 or 5 nights running and then all will be fine for another couple of months. Be aware that certain acidic foods and drinks in your diet will slowly reopen up the root porosities causing the return of sensitivity. Tooth clenchers and grinders may also find that this type of root sensitivity is more of a problem.

 

If you find the above treatment is not effective in controlling the sensitivity please contact DDC to arrange an appointment to see the dentist for alternative therapies. Tooth clenchers and grinders should also have their problem addressed in addition to the sensitivity.