When your teeth hurt, there's a good chance that you look to a sensitivity toothpaste for relief. After all, these are advertised as providing sensitivity and pain reduction with regular use. However, are you really getting the help that you need?
What They Do
Sensitivity toothpastes do one thing and they do it well: they plug holes.
The surface of your tooth is filled with pores, similar to your skin. When enamel wears down on the surface of the tooth, these pores are exposed to the surface. The nerves are very close to these pores, so anything that touches them can send a ripple of pain through your tooth.
Sensitivity toothpastes reduce this discomfort by plugging up the holes with minerals. This is a safe process and one that can help you to get relief soon after starting to use them.
What They Don't Do
Sensitivity toothpastes are good at what they do, but there are some things that they're incapable of. Unfortunately, if you're using sensitivity toothpaste as a fix, you're not getting the help that you need.
Sensitivity toothpastes can't restore lost dental enamel nor can they help to fortify any that's still there. This means that your weakened or damaged enamel will remain the way that it is and will be susceptible to further damage. This can not only increase your risk of developing cavities but can ultimately put you in a lot more pain than you are now.
Keep in mind that some sensitivity toothpastes will note that they help to keep enamel strong. This typically just means that they contain fluoride, which is the same as nearly any other toothpaste on the market. It doesn't mean that they can restore damaged or lost enamel; they just help to keep healthy enamel strong.
Getting Help
If you want help with your painful or sensitive teeth, you should look to a dentist. Dentists are pros at what they do and are able to not only reduce your discomfort but to also protect your teeth from further damage. They accomplish this by utilizing dental crowns. A crown fully encapsulates a tooth, protecting it from coming into contact with food, acid, and bacteria. This ensures that your teeth won't continue to suffer from exposure to acid in your food and drinks, so you can go back to eating what you enjoy.
When something goes wrong with your mouth, you shouldn't look to a new product to resolve it. Instead, get help from a dentist that will be able to understand what exactly is going on with your oral health and how to fix it.
Share23 August 2019
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.