If your teeth ache when you eat hot or cold food or drinks, this could be a sign that you have sensitive teeth. To relieve this complaint, you need to use a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth which is formulated to treat toothache.
Teeth consist of 4 layers, namely enamel (e-mail), dentin, cementum, and pulp. The outermost layer of the tooth is the enamel. Enamel is a hard layer on the surface of the teeth that serves to protect the teeth.
Beneath the enamel, there is dentin, which is tooth tissue with millions of tiny holes. Inside the tooth, there is a pulp consisting of many blood vessels and nerves.
When the enamel is eroded, hot or cold temperatures can easily reach the dentin and hit the pulp which is sensitive to stimulation. As a result, the teeth will feel sore. Sometimes, sweet or sour foods can cause a toothache sensation.
In addition to the erosion of tooth enamel, complaints of sensitive teeth can also occur due to dental plaque, damaged fillings, cracked teeth, or gum disease.
Why Teeth Pain Must Use Sensitive Toothpaste?
Toothache is a complaint in the form of pain or discomfort in the teeth after the teeth are exposed to heat, cold, or certain chemicals. Complaints of toothache usually subside on its own within a few minutes or hours. But sometimes, this toothache complaint can come and go for years.
Without proper care and treatment, toothache can have a significant impact on the quality of life, because the sufferer cannot eat and drink freely. One way to relieve sensitive teeth is to brush your teeth using a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
Special toothpaste for sensitive teeth works by filling small holes in the dentin. This type of toothpaste contains very small particles (nanoparticles) that can penetrate the tooth layer and clog holes in the dentin. So, food and drink will not directly hit the nerves of the teeth
In addition, special toothpaste for sensitive teeth also contains minerals that can coat the tooth surface, so that the teeth become more resistant to acid attack. That way, you will not feel the sensation of pain when you eat hot, cold, or sour food.
But you need to know, the effectiveness of special toothpaste for sensitive teeth in overcoming pain depends on the cause of sensitive teeth. This toothpaste may not be effective for toothache caused by cavities or gum infections.
Difference Between Ordinary Toothpaste and Sensitive Toothpaste
Ordinary toothpaste generally contains fluoride formulated to prevent cavities. Fluoride works by:
- Replaces mineral levels lost in the protective layer (email) of teeth.
- Coats and protects tooth enamel from acids and bacteria, and prevents tooth decay.
- Has antibacterial properties that can prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth and gums, and inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Use a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth by first applying it to the surface of the teeth, then waiting for a few minutes. After that, brush your teeth as usual. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.
Even though the pain in your teeth has subsided, it is recommended that you continue to treat sensitive teeth. During treatment using a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, avoid food and drinks that trigger toothache, and stop teeth whitening treatment until the pain subsides.
It is no less important to have your teeth checked by the dentist every six months or if the sensitive tooth does not go away, even though you have used a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
To treat sensitive teeth that are severe and don't improve with self-care at home, the dentist can perform root canal treatment, fillings (if cavities are present), or filling the surface of the teeth with special substances to strengthen the tooth coating.
