WHAT CAUSES SENSITIVE TEETH?¹

Knowing a bit more about the structure of your teeth will help you understand what causes tooth sensitivity.^2,3

Your teeth are made up of three layers:

The outer layer, called the enamel, is the strongest.
The core of the tooth is dentine, which is softer and contains millions of tiny holes.
The deepest part of the tooth is called the pulp. This contains the nerves at the centre of the tooth.⁴

The short, sharp twinge of tooth sensitivity is caused when the soft dentine inside your tooth becomes exposed, revealing the tiny holes inside it. These holes are the openings to channels that run through your dentine straight to the centre of the tooth where the nerve is. When you eat or drink something cold, hot, sweet or sour, this stimulus can travel through the holes and stimulate the nerve, resulting in the short, sharp shock of tooth sensations.^2,3

Rs 730/-

WHY DO MY TEETH FEEL SENSITIVE?^3,5

There are two main reasons your dentine can become exposed and make your teeth sensitive:

Gum recession – which is usually caused by gum disease or brushing too hard.
Enamel wear – the hard enamel on the outside of your teeth can wear away over time if you brush too hard and frequently consume acidic drinks and food throughout the day.^3,5

If you are concerned about tooth sensitivity you should ask your dentist about it. A dental professional can tell if you have sensitive teeth and offer advice on how best to treat it.

If your teeth are sensitive, brushing twice daily with a Sensodyne toothpaste can help. Sensodyne is the NO.1 DENTIST RECOMMENDED brand for sensitive teeth. Sensodyne Rapid Relief works in 60 seconds**, so you can get back to eating and drinking without worrying about those unpleasant twinges. There is a full range of Sensodyne Toothpastes to choose from so you can find the one that best suits your needs.

*Mason S, Hughes N, Sufi F, Bannon L, Maggio B, North M, Holt J. A Comparative Clinical Study Investigating the Efficacy of a Dentifrice Containing 8% Strontium Acetate and 1040 ppm Fluoride in a Silica Base and a Control Dentifrice Containing 1450 ppm Fluoride in a Silica Base to Provide Immediate Relief of Dentin Hypersensitivity. The Journal of Clinical Dentistry. 2010; 21(2): 42-48.
**Retail Value Sales data, 12 months ending September 2018
¹Why do I get sensitive teeth? MoA Master Long script
²Brannstrom M, Astrom A. A study on the mechanism of pain elicited from the dentin. J Dent Res 1964; 43(4): 619-26.
³Addy, M, Smith S R. Dentin hypersensitivity: an overview on which to base tubule occlusion as a management concept. J Clin Dent 2010; 21(2) [Spec Iss]: 25-30
⁴Johnson, J. (2014). Tooth Decay. [Online] Patient Education Content. Available at: https://www.ada.org/en/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/ADA_PatientSmart_Tooth_Decay
⁵Smith R G. Gingival recession Reappraisal of an enigmatic condition and a new index for monitoring. J Clin Periodontol.1997; 24: 201-205.