Sensitivity of teeth….
Before we precede onto this topic let me give u a brief about tooth structure…
Basically a tooth comprises of three layers….
1 enamel-the top most and hardest layer. It’s white in color.
2. Dentine-the second layer beneath enamel. It’s yellow in color. It’s softer and more sensitive
3. pulp-third and the innermost layer. It’s red in color. It’s the most sensitive part of tooth as it contains the nerve supply and blood supply of tooth.
So when enamel gets abraded or erodded, due to any of the causes mentioned below, the softer layer that’s dentine get exposed to the oral cavity (that is your mouth).so whenever we eat or drink anything we feel sensitivity. And when the damage extends beyond dentine then it reaches the inner most layers called pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels and then u start feeling pain.
Now let’s get to the topic….
What is sensitivity…..?
The extreme sensation of hot and /or cold that u feels in your teeth while eating or drinking is sensitivity.
Causes:-
1. Abraded enamel-caused due to mechanical factors like hard/faulty/vigorous brushing or using a hard tooth brush.
2. Eroded enamel-caused due to chemical factors like smoking, chewing tobacco or pan masala and drinking carbonated drinks (cold drinks) in excess.
3. Cavities-small cavities that have not been treated.
4. Thin enamel-this is genetic or by birth. U can’t do anything about it, but a dentist can.
5. Bruxism-this is clenching of upper and lower teeth either consciously due to stress or unconsciously during sleeping at night.
Cures:-
1. Always use ultra soft brush and never brush your teeth vigorously. Hard brushing does not mean cleaner teeth should brush your teeth softly in short circular motions with ultra soft brush….
2. U need to control cold drinks and smoking and tobacco habits.
3. If there are small cavities in your mouth might not be able to see them yourself. But a dentist can warn you about impending cavities. So get a dental checkup done every six months and get small cavities filled. Don’t wait till the cavity becomes too large, reaches the pulp layer and start causing u pain.
4. If u genetically have thin layer of enamel, then u can ask your dentist about composite or ceramic laminates.
5. If u have bruxism problem, that is if u clench Ur teeth, get a night guard made for yourself from a dentist, else slowly all Ur teeth run the risk of getting abraded to a point where I’ll have immense sensitivity followed by pain.
6. Other remedy is to use sensitivity tooth pastes like thermoseal, sensodyne, thermokind….etc…
How to use these tooth pastes….
Wash your hands. Take a pea size amount of the tooth paste on your finger, and apply it on all your teeth. Leave the paste like that for 30 sec to one min.then wet your toothbrush and start brushing your teeth softly in small circular motions. the entire process will take you about 2 min.then rinse your mouth thoroughly and do not eat or drink anything after that for at least 20 min. Preferably do it in night so that u have ample time for your teeth.
While using this paste use regular paste in morning and use sensitivity paste in night.
Use this paste only for three months at a stretch, then give a gap of three months if u wishes to use the sensitivity tooth paste again. The reason is that when you use these toothpastes for prolonged periods, the ingredients of these toothpastes cause sclerosis of dentinal tubules. Sclerosis means hardening or inflammation and because of that inflammation the sensitivity increases.
Sensitivity is a very minor issue that carries the potential of becoming very big and painful problem if not tackled at the right time and with right measures.
Take care of yourself and your teeth, they are precious.
hi renuca .the above post is in response to ur query..hope u find it helpful….
Hi Shilpa, thx for answering my query..my apologies for my delay in responding .. as Rashmi so kindly pointed out, I have a little boy who keeps me busy.. this is the first chance I got after Rashmi posted my query to log on and check.. You have been very through and clear in your explanation of my problem.. and you have convinced me to go see a dentist ASAP.. Thx so much for taking the time and trouble.. appreciate it alot ..Only wish I could come to you instead of having to find one here in Mumbai
hi renuca……thx for replying here….
my apologies if u found my comment rude….but i was not rude rather i was nervous like hell as it was my post……and was just wondering if the post was really informative and helpful for you.and i was really not aware that u have a naughty toddler to take care of…….give ur kid my lots of love…..whats his/her name?
soon i’ll do a post fr anmol and and ur son/daughter….child dental care…
and you are most welcome to come to my place but really it does not matter whether u show to me or some other dentist…..mumbai has some really good dentists..find a gud one and get ur problem sorted out…
and if u have any other query ..u are most welcome to ask..after all you are my first online client….;-p
take care
Thx Shilpa, I didnt find your comment rude at all, your nervousness is understandable so no worries
…look forward to your post on dental hygiene for preschoolers (you preempted my next query 
).. Thx a ton (must say you look like a very well-turned out dentist) 
thankyou so much renuca…..u have really relieved me of so much of burden…..
yes i’ll do a post on child care starting from infants to teenagers…..just give me some time as i really have to squeeze time from my schedule and covering evrything that too in an interesting way takes time….
i know you will understand…..
Awesome post Doc..Very helpful
hi zara…glad that u liked it…..ek response to aya…..else i was thinking ke maine itna boring post likha hai that nobody read it……
Nopes..Its really interesting..M gona tell my hubs about this..he’s obsessed about toothpaste for sensitive teeth..and for quite a while now he’s been complaining for tooth aches and his molars r hurting like crazy..bad teeth he’s got..poor fella..
wish u were here..wud have hopping in for a consult..
then zara..what r u guys waiting for…..if its hurting him badly….see a dentist asap….else come to my clinic…coz even if i come there…i can only see u…..cant treat him…..
it hurts him in intervals..u see, he’s very dentist-phobic…when he has the pain, he goes to the dentist..the dentist then gives him a painkiller and asks him to come back in a couple of days…then within 2 days the pain dissipates..so then he doesnt go back..he’s very scared of dentists…whatever i do he doesn’t listen…hehe..
Hello Doctor Shilpa , am fond of your convos. with your or say our very own MAC Guru and love yours and Zara’s sweet little makeup talks .
I wanted to ask you one thing ,
My niece is fond of chocolates and everything sweet and she is not bothered to paste twice a day and that is what creating problems. cavities and anything hot or cold bothers her , she is 4 yrs old and tell me is it okay to remove cavities at this age ?? My sis is in USA and would be visiting us in dec. is it okay to remove it here or it will be too late??
Thank you for the above post am going to bookmark this.
hi sonu….first of all thx a lot for liking the post….hope u found it informative..
now talkng about your 4 yr old sweet niece…u should definitely get all the cavities filled.i know the common excuse people or for that matter,parents give is” ye to dhoodh ke daant hai….ye to nikal hi jaenge.inko bacha ke kya karna hai?’
but no its wrong notion that common people carry…..the cavities of milk teeth should also be taken care of at the earliest else the teeth will start paining and the child being so young…will develop a dental phobia for ever…..
now your second question..whether they shud get it filled in usa or they can wait till dec …again it depends….if the cavities are not hurting the child right now they can definitely wait till dec and get all the cavities filled here….as i understand the dental treatment is very expensive in usa…..but if in the mean time the child complains of pain then they need to see a doctor……
but going by your explaination….your sis really needs to controol the chocolate urge of her daughter….and she shud imbibe in her the habit of brushing twice at the early age…..
hope this helps for now….if there is any other query….feel free to ask…..
thank you so much Shilpa for the quick reply
i logged on to check and see its here , am going to mail my sister this page and will ask Rashmi your mail id and will ask your help for future queries
thanks again
Hello Shilpa , thanks a lot for the post on sensitive teeth , I am addicted to colgate sensitive but i think now I need to stop it as its been yr am using some or the other toothpaste for sensitive teeth and still no relief
hi khushboo…..thx fr response….and am really glad that u liked the above post…..
well if u have been using a sensitivity tothpastes fr almost a year and now u feel no releif then i wud request you to visit a dentist.he / she will acertain the cause of your sensitivity and give you proper treatment….sensitivity could be due to any causes lited above….which only a dentist will be able to tell u better after seeing your teeth….
sensitivity toothpaste is a temporary measure….don’t give this problem time to escalate into pain by neglecting it…
Shilpa I recently discover a small tooth cavity..I am not able to treat it as i don’t have dental insurance her so it will take me almost 6 more moths to come india and take a treatment..do i need a special care? Hey! i will come to you for the treatment as i live in delhi.
nidhi gakkhar recently posted..Teal-Golden Night eye look
hi nidhi…..thx fr the query….i know that u are not in india…and are away for six months…..
well dont get the cavity filled there…it will cost u bomb….
but just make sure that u dont let the food get stuck in that cavity by rinsing your mouth thoroughly after anything u eat..even if its a harmless biscuit….and brush properly twice daily…..that is in morning and night…..
there is absolutely no need to panic…..cavities take long to escalate into bigger ones…..its not that you let that happen by neglecting them…..but they can certainly wait for 6 months.
and most welcome….wen even u come bak….visit my clinic…..i’ll solve this problem of yours…..
Dear Shilpa
First of all apologies for not commenting here first
I was out whole day as you know my sis is here and last night jiju came so was trying to be good host…
Am so thankful that you took initiative and wrote this wonderful post about sensitivity and am looking forward for more such helpful articles by you: D
You just can’t imagine how much I am happy to share this space with you dear: D: D
oh mac guru……thats okay….but i wanted to know whether u liked my fist post or not…….i was nervous like hell……but imagine renuca asked me this question and there has been no response from her side…i wonder if she had even read this post…..but i m happy with the over whelming response of other readers here…..i hope to keep them interested in dentistry wid coming posts….
thanks a lot shilpa for everything and i so appreciate your gesture dear D:
….
honey Renuca will surely see … she has a toddler and thats why little busy but am sure your effort will be appreciated and it is honey isnt it
thanks again and am sorry for not being here whole day
Thx so much Rashmi, you understand me so well
…hugs
aww
i know Renuca 
am glad dear and i know you are always here for me 