{"id":67359,"date":"2020-08-03T08:50:20","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T07:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growingsmiles.co.uk\/?p=67359"},"modified":"2021-06-28T11:45:48","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T10:45:48","slug":"the-thing-about-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growingsmiles.co.uk\/the-thing-about-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Sensitive Teeth in the Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"
Tooth sensitivity can be a problem for many. Summer is one of those seasons many of us look forward to – brighter evenings, summer holidays \u2013 or in these Covid pandemic days, staycations, trips to the seaside and of course (usually) sunshine and warmer weather. With warmer weather often comes cooler drinks and more frozen treats such as ice lollies and ice-creams. These may be great for keeping us cool, but for many, can leave us feeling rather sensitive…<\/p>
Tooth sensitivity can occur when dentine (the layer beneath the enamel which covers the outside of the teeth) becomes exposed. This can happen due to a number of reasons such as tooth decay, losing a filling, receding gums, acid erosion, tooth brushing too hard (abrasion), tooth grinding (bruxism), gum disease, trauma to a tooth (e.g. cracked) or following whitening (bleaching) treatment. <\/p>
The feeling of sensitivity can range from a mild twinge which goes very quickly, to an incredibly painful ache that lasts for hours at a time. The most common sensitivity is related to dentine being exposed at the neck of teeth where gum and tooth meet \u2013 known as \u2018dentine hypersensitivity\u2019. This type of sensitivity is described in dental texts as a \u2018short, sharp pain from exposed dentine in response to a stimulus (e.g. cold drink), which cannot be attributed to any other form of dental disease or condition.\u2019 This usually happens when you eat or drink something cold, hot, sugary and\/or acidic<\/a>. <\/p> Ring any bells?<\/p> Sensitivity is a very common problem, and the good news is there are things you can do about it. Below are some tips from Growing Smiles on how you can reduce and manage your dentine sensitivity:<\/p> Many ask the question – what is the best toothpaste for sensitivity? Well, there are a number of home care products available to help – depending on the cause.<\/p> Generally, for exposed dentine, the aim is to seal the dentinal tubules. In some cases this can be managed with regular use of sensitivity toothpaste<\/a>. Toothpastes for sensitivity use different formulations, so you may have to try different pastes (even within a brand) to find what works best for you.<\/p> Other, more specialised products can be used alongside sensitivity toothpaste. A product such as MI Paste Plus<\/a> from GC is one. This contains \u2018Recaldent ACP-CPP\u2019 and can be smeared onto the area affected with a clean finger or toothbrush, or use bleaching trays or orthodontic retainers. Ensure the tooth\/teeth are as dry as possible before you apply. There is also a fluoride free option called \u2018Tooth Mousse\u2019<\/a>. These products do contain casein (milk protein), so always check ingredients if you have allergies. Learn more about Recaldent ACPCPP on the product pages linked above.<\/p>