Why are my Teeth Senstive?

This Monday I will be interviewed by a writer about sensitive teeth. Interestingly enough this month I have had many patients (more than usual) tell me their teeth are sensitive. I am attributing it to the cold snap we have here in New York. It is not just cold air that afflicts the teeth, it can be cold water, sweets, tooth paste, or brushing. To give some background all teeth have pores. These pores are not on the white enamel that we smile with, rather they are right at the border of the tooth and gum. As we abuse our teeth with brushing too hard, grinding our teeth, not flossing, or even not having cleanings often enough our gums can receed. That yellow line you see at the border of the gum and enamel is exposed root. Roots are porous. These pores will go all the way down to the nerve of the tooth. So if something covers these pores, like gum tissue, enamel or calicium (as it should) the tooth is NOT sensitive. If an acidic diet (any drink having Citric Acid), brushing too hard, grinding our teeth, brushing with too strong of a toothpaste (for your mouth) can cause the tooth to be cold sensitive. Cold sensitive to: water, foods, ice, or the COLD New York air. There is a simple solution: cover the pores. This can be done by your dentist by multiple products, or by you at home with Sensodyne ProNamel toothpaste. The paste with Potassium Nitrate "quiets" the nerve of the tooth and soon via Calcium, Fluoride and saliva repair the pores get plugged up. A more "quiet" tooth means a more comfortable tooth. That being said on a tooth that is very sensitive, after brushing and flossing, one could rub a bit of the paste on that sensitive tooth (right at the level of the gum) and let it sit overnight.

Of course more can be wrong with the tooth, the sensitivity could be from a dying nerve and need a root canal, it could be from grinding your teeth, it could be from a crack in the tooth or a cavity, but this is a good start. I have to of course end with the comment "you should seek the advice of your dentist if symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks". That is just good advice no matter who is interviewing you. :)

There is some good information to also review on the Sensodyne website.

http://www.pronamel.us/

TMJ Appliance part II

I have worn my night guard (created special to keep my jaw in the proper resting position) for two nights now. I noticed my muscles more at rest on morning one. For the second morning I realize that my jaw sits more forward with the new appliance. Due to my missing lateral incisors my top jaw is smaller than the bottom. This should be opposite in fact. My bottom jaw is then constantly held to far backward. This produces muscle stress which builds over time. It seems that this new appliance allows my bottom jaw to rest in a more forward position and my muscles are resting. In reference to my post yesterday, rest is good for the muscles of the face as well!