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Sensitive teeth occur when the underlying layer of your teeth – the dentin – becomes exposed as a result of receding bum tissue (the protective blanket that covers the tooth roots).  The roots, which are not covered by hard enamel, contain thousands of tiny tubules leading to the tooth’s nerve center (the pulp).  These dentinal tubules (or channels) allow the stimuli – for example, the hot, cold, or sweet food – to reach the nerve in your tooth, which results in the pain you feel.

There are many factors that may lead to sensitive teeth, including:

• Brushing too hard.  Over time, brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can wear down enamel and cause the dentin to be exposed.  It can also cause recession of the gums (the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth).
• Tooth decay near the gum line.
• Recession of the gums.  As gums move away from a tooth due to conditions such as periodontal disease, the root surface becomes exposed.
• Gum disease (gingivitis).  Inflamed and sore gum tissue may cause sensitivity due to the loss of supporting ligaments, which exposes the root surface that leads directly to the nerve of the tooth.
• Cracked teeth.  Chipped or broken teeth may fill with bacteria from plaque and enter the pulp causing inflammation.
• Teeth grinding.  Grinding or clenching your teeth may wear down the enamel and expose underlying dentin.
• Tooth whitening products.  These products may be major contributors to sensitive teeth.
• Your age.  Tooth sensitivity is highest between the ages of 25 and 30.
• Plaque build-up.  The presence of plaque on the root surfaces can cause sensitivity.
• Mouthwash use.  Long-term use of some mouthwashes. Some over-the-counter mouthwashes contain acids that can worsen tooth sensitivity if you have exposed dentin (the middle layer of the tooth).  The acids further damage the dentin layer of the tooth.  If you have dentin sensitivity, ask us about the use of a neutral fluoride solution.
• Acidic foods.  Regular consumption of foods with a high acid content, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, and tea, can cause enamel erosion.
• Recent routine dental procedures.  Sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, root planing, crown placement, and tooth restoration.  Sensitivity caused by dental procedures is temporary, usually disappearing in four to six weeks.

What Can You Do to Reduce Tooth Sensitivity?

Some steps you can take to prevent tooth sensitivity include:

• Maintain good oral hygiene.  Continue to follow proper brushing and flossing techniques to thoroughly clean all parts of your teeth and mouth.
• Use a soft bristled toothbrush, better yet use an electric toothbrush.  This will result in less toothbrush abrasion to the tooth surface and less irritation to your gums.  Brush gently and carefully around the gum line so you do not remove more gum tissue.
• Use desensitizing toothpaste.  There are several brands of toothpaste available for sensitive teeth.  With regular use you should notice a decrease in sensitivity.  You may need to try several different brands to find the product that works best for you.  Another tip is to spread a thin layer of the toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots with your finger or a Q-tip before you go to bed.  Rather than using a tartar control toothpaste; use a fluoridated toothpaste.
• Watch what you eat.  Frequent consumption of highly acid foods can gradually dissolve tooth enamel and lead to dentin exposure.  They may also aggravate the sensitivity and start the pain reaction.
• Use fluoridated dental products.  Daily use of a fluoridated mouth rinse can decrease sensitivity.  Ask us about available products for home use.
• Avoid teeth grinding.  If you grind or clench your teeth, see us about an occlusal guard (mouth guard) to use at night.
• See us at regular intervals.  A professional tooth cleaning, oral hygiene instructions and fluoride treatments every six months (or sooner depending on your condition) is essential.

We wish to acknowledge and thank author Honor Whiteman and Medical News Today for this article. This little known fact and the manner in which Honor Whiteman writes the article was so interesting, we felt our patients too would benefit from the information.

Alzheimer’s Disease Linked to Poor Dental Health

A study has found that people with poor oral hygiene or gum disease could be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those who have healthy teeth.
Researchers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK, discovered the presence of a bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of patients who had dementia when they were alive. The bug is usually associated with chronic periodontal (gum) disease.

For the study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 10 brain samples from patients with dementia were donated for analysis by a scheme called Brains for Dementia Research, alongside 10 brain samples from people who had not had the disease.

Examination of the samples revealed the presence of the Porphyromonas gingivalis in the samples of the brains affected by Alzheimer’s.

Need for invasive dental treatment “increases the bacterial risk”

This bacterium is usually found in oral cavities, and enters the blood stream through a variety of daily activities, such as chewing, eating and brushing teeth. However, it is more likely to enter the blood stream after invasive dental treatment, where it is possible that the bacteria can enter the brain regularly, the researchers say.

Each time the bacteria enters the brain, the researchers note, this could potentially trigger immune system responses, causing the release of excess chemicals that can kill neurons.

The researchers say that this activity could lead to symptoms such as confusion and deteriorating memory — typical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Study adds to previous findings

The study adds to previous findings that Alzheimer’s is linked to poor oral health. Research from New York University in 2010 revealed long-term evidence that linked gum inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease, finding that gum disease could increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction.

Another study has suggested that other bacteria and viruses are linked to the disease. Research from the University of New Mexico suggested that Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was linked to Alzheimer’s. Professor St John Crean, from the School of Medical Dentistry at UCLan, says of this most recent research: “Whereas previous studies have indicated a link between dementia and other bacteria and viruses such as the Herpes simplex virus type 1, this new research indicates a possible association between gum disease and individuals who may be susceptible to developing Alzheimer’s disease, if exposed to the appropriate trigger.”

“Research currently under way at UCLan is playing an active role in exploring this link,” Professor St. John Crean continues, “but it remains to be proven whether poor dental hygiene can lead to dementia in healthy people, which obviously could have significant implications for the population as a whole. It is also likely that these bacteria could make the existing disease condition worse.”

The researchers hope that continued donation of brain tissue will enable examination of more samples from people with and without Alzheimer’s disease who have relevant dental records.

They add that future research will involve determining whether the Porphyromonas gingivalis could be used as a marker for a blood test that predicts the development of Alzheimer’s disease in patients who are at higher risk.