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Home Remedies for Sensitive Teeth

Priya Johnson
Certain home remedies help decrease the stinging sensation that passes through the mouth on consuming hot, cold, or sour foods. Making slight changes to one's brushing style can also help to a large extent.
If on consuming something cold, hot or sour, you are left with a slight twitch of pain or a severe electric sensation radiating through the oral cavity, your teeth are said to be sensitive. Sometimes inhaling cold air can also cause discomfort. This pain and discomfort may last for a few minutes to a few hours, leading to uneasiness and irritation all day.
Tooth sensitivity is mostly seen in people within ages 20 and 40, however it also affects the elderly. About 40 million people in the US are affected by it. The most irking part about sensitive teeth is that it makes eating and drinking cold, sour and hot foods difficult. Although there is no instant remedy, these measures will help alleviate the condition.

Remedial Measures for Sensitive Teeth

Vertical Brushing

Horizontal brushing of the teeth is not recommended. Irrespective of whether we have sensitive teeth or not, we should only brush in the vertical direction.
Hold the brush in your mouth and brush with 'up and down' movements. Also try circular brushing motion. Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle and gently brush your teeth in a circular way. Always use fingertips to hold the brush and not your palm. Horizontal brushing wears out the teeth enamel and conduces to expose the tooth dentin, causing sensitive teeth.

Soft Brushing

Vigorous brushing wears out the outer enamel and results in exposure of inner dentin, due to application of extra pressure on the teeth. It is important that brushing is done steadily and slowly, without being aggressive and harsh on the teeth.
Moreover, do not forget to use an extra sensitive toothbrush and discard your toothbrush when its bristles begin pointing in different directions.

Fluoride Rinse

People with sensitive teeth need to rinse their mouths once a day with a fluoride rinse. People with highly sensitive teeth may need a stronger fluoride rinse than the regular ones available in the local pharmacy.
Situations wherein people have gum diseases or dental bone loss, and are undergoing root planing treatment, the teeth can end up being left even more sensitive. In such cases, the dentist will apply a strong fluoride gel to counter the problem.

Proper Teeth Cleaning

Sensitive teeth are prone to irritation caused by plaque. Plaque, the sticky substance adhering to the surface of the teeth produces an acid that irritates the teeth, making it even more sensitive. To avoid this, you must clean off the plaque daily. This may seem boring, but, if you want to decrease the sensitivity, brush twice a day and floss once a day.

Toothpaste

Desensitized toothpaste is recommended for sensitive teeth. It comprises two main ingredients: potassium nitrate and strontium chloride. Potassium nitrate will desensitize the nerve roots, such that the pain stimuli does not get transmitted from the pulp to the teeth root.
Strontium on the other hand fills up tiny pores in the dentin layer, thereby preventing the pain stimuli from reaching the tooth root. Thus, together these two help reduce teeth sensitivity to a large extent.
Sensitive teeth need to be dealt with as soon as possible, as longer the delay, greater will be the sensitivity. If you look at each remedy mentioned here, you will find that these are just small corrections we need to make to our brushing habits. Hope this write-up was helpful and informative!
Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.