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Problem with sensitivity?



       Be it relationship or your teeth, being overly sensitive is not always good. Though we cannot counsel you on relationship, we certainly can give insight on teeth hypersensitivity.
      When the outermost layer (enamel) is stripped off your teeth, you experience hypersensitivity. This can be due to mechanical or chemical (acids) causes. You can spare yourself from the pain, by knowing what you are doing wrong.

Improper brushing:
       Brushing harder/longer/using a hard brush does more harm than good. Your enamel can be worn out. So know the proper way to brush your teeth from our previous post.

Gum disease:
          Due to improper oral hygiene or old age, your gums recede exposing the root. Since roots do not have enamel, you may experience hypersensitivity.
          Though we cannot do anything to impede the natural ageing process, we can maintain proper oral hygiene.

Diet:
          The acids in food or drink can cause erosion of enamel. Speaking of acids, acid reflux (GERD) is also one of the implications. For this reason, you should get it treated as soon as possible.

Stress:
           As you all know, stress leaves its mark on almost every system in your body and tooth is not an exception. Many people tend to clench or grind your teeth subconsciously or in sleep. This peels away the enamel quickly. Clenching also causes headache and muscle pain.
  
      You can get a custom made mouth guard to be worn at night by visiting a dentist.

Cracked tooth/ fillings:
             Your teeth can withstand certain amount of force, but when you try to bite a bone or open a bottle cap it gives in. A chipped/ cracked tooth sets off excruciating pain and sensitivity.
              Sometimes old fillings may develop cracks due to continuous wear. This can be treated by replacing the cracked filling with new one.

Dental decay:
               Your enamel is dissolved in the acids produced by caries causing bacteria. This results in sensitivity and pain.

         Sensitivity toothpaste is NOT an elixir for hypersensitivity. It is a medicated toothpaste and it does not remove plaque effectively. Using a sensitivity toothpaste just because your friend or a television ad told you, is not a wise thing to do. Knowing the cause and eliminating it would be the first and foremost step. 
        If you use a sensitivity toothpaste without eliminating the cause, it will only provide temporary relief after which it may not give the desired effect. Eventually you have to get treated by a dentist. So it is always best to pay a visit to your dentist before it gets worse. 

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  1. What I love about this blog is,the way you balance well between explaining science and making it easy for us to understand...- Anusha

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