Summary
In today's podcast, Dr. Nammy Patel talks about tooth sensitivity. She explains the causes of this issue. Then, she outlines at-home remedies and explains when to call a dentist for help.
John Maher: Hi. I am John Maher, and I’m here today with Dr. Nammy Patel, founder of Green Dentistry in San Francisco, California, helping patients recognize the vital connection between dental health and whole body health and author of the bestselling books, Age With Style: Guide To A Youthful Smile and Healthy Living, and Total Wellness: Understanding The Link Between Your Teeth And Your Health.
Today our topic is tips for managing tooth sensitivity. Welcome, Dr. Nammy.
Dr. Nammy Patel: Thanks, John, for having me.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
John: Sure. Dr. Nammy, why do some people sometimes experience sensitive teeth, such as sensitivity to hot or cold when you’re drinking hot tea and all of a sudden your tooth starts to hurt or you’re eating ice cream and you feel a little pain in your teeth? Why does that happen?
Dr. Nammy: The most common reasons for tooth sensitivity aside from cavities is going to be gum recession and grinding. So a lot of times when patients are brushing their teeth too hard or sometimes if they’re grinding, the gum tissue recedes and exposes the nerve endings of the root.
Then, you have a hot cup of tea or you have cold water or a scoop of ice cream and it’s like, “Ah,” it’s just this horrible pain that you get. And it alarms you and it catches your attention and it’s almost like, “What is going on? Why am I having this? I just went to the dentist,” or, “I don’t remember anything being like this.” And actually it’s because nerve endings are exposed.
Cavities, Gum Recession, and Grinding Can Cause Sensitivity
John: Okay. Yeah. So talk a little bit more about the causes of tooth sensitivity. You mentioned that it can be because of gum recession and maybe grinding your teeth might influence that and you mentioned cavities as well. Talk a little bit more about those causes.
Dr. Nammy: So cavities are usually when there’s a lot of acid or bacterial buildup that causes a hole in the tooth. That’s what a cavity really is, or caries in medical terms. It’s basically when there is a hole in the tooth. When there is a hole in the tooth, the nerve endings are exposed and that’s what causes what we know as sensitivity. Anytime the nerve endings are exposed, we will feel some sort of pain, hot or cold.
And the second reason, like I mentioned, is a gum recession. When the root surfaces are exposed. So cavities on the tooth. Now we have the root. The root of the tooth is exposed and that will cause sensitivity as well. Sometimes when we’re clenching and grinding our teeth, we really irritate our nerves as well because we’re putting too much pressure on it, and that’s what we call grinding and that causes sensitivity as well.
Now there’s some severe cases where the tooth is so decayed that the nerve is exposed. That’s when we get those shooting, throbbing pain. And that’s not really sensitivity, I would say. That’s probably a lot more pain and definitely needs immediate attention right away.
How to Treat Tooth Sensitivity
John: If you just have some sort of minor sensitivity, is that the kind of thing that we might be able to treat ourselves at home? And how would we go about doing that?
Dr. Nammy: Absolutely. So number one, you want to make sure… A lot of times I actually see patients using abrasive whitening toothpaste that causes sensitivity too. So my number one answer to that would be to stop using those. Use sensitive teeth toothpaste. That’s the easiest one to be able to utilize and grab at the drugstore and start utilizing right away.
You can also use toothpaste with hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is a material that has calcium, magnesium and things like that in it. And what it does, it makes your teeth less sensitive because it makes the outer crystal more dense and stronger. So I would recommend a hydroxy nano apatite toothpaste as well, and it works amazingly.
Obviously, if you’re brushing too hard, lay low. Use your left hand brush instead of your right hand so you don’t put as much pressure. So those would be some basic things I would recommend to do right away.
When to See a Dentist About Sensitive Teeth
John: And when do you know that it’s time maybe to go see a dentist? And when should you see a dentist for your tooth sensitivity?
Dr. Nammy: My number one answer is you should always see a dentist regularly. And I mean, every three months is what I recommend because of our microbiome. Now, let’s say you didn’t get a chance to go or you’re traveling or whatnot and your sensitivity is bothering you, I would say if you tried the hydroxy nano toothpaste and you’re not brushing too hard or anything like that and you’ve tried some maybe deep breathing to try to avoid grinding and lower that stress level.
Now, if you’re still having sensitivity about three days later or a week later, I would definitely call the dentist right away and say, “Hey. You know what? I’ve tried some over-the-counter things, but things haven’t resolved. I’d really like to get in. I really need to make this a priority and to get myself out of discomfort.” That’s what I would recommend.
John: Because you could have a larger problem, like you said, with your receding gums or with a cavity or something like that?
Dr. Nammy: Exactly.
Contact Green Dentistry If You Have Tooth Sensitivity
John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Dr. Nammy. Thanks again for speaking with me today.
Dr. Nammy: My pleasure.
John: And for more information about Green Dentistry, visit the website@sfgreendentist.com or call 415-433-0119.