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CoastRider - Edition 470
569 - March
October
5th20th
20132015
Health and Beauty
19
How to Care for Sensitive Teeth
Many of us say we have “sensitive teeth.” We
usually mean that we feel twinges of pain or
discomfort in our teeth in certain situations. These
may include:
• Drinking or eating cold things
• Drinking or eating hot things
• Eating sweets
• Touching the teeth with other teeth or the
tongue
• Breathing cold air
Over half of us experience the twinge of sensitive
teeth at some point in our lives — 30 percent of us
suffer daily — and it’s a problem that seems to be on
the rise. One of the most common dental complaints,
it tends to peak in the 30-50 age group. Women are
consistently shown to suffer more, although no one
knows why.
Causes:
One culprit is receding gums — they expose the
sensitive dentine roots of the teeth not covered by
protective enamel. Receding gums become more
common with age, but they’re also caused by overbrushing, which wears them away, or under-brushing
and not flossing, which can lead to disease and
shrinkage.
Certain foods and drinks can contribute, too.
Anything acidic will slightly dissolve the enamel. That
means sugary foods and drinks; anything frizzy,
including carbonated water; and fruit and fruit juice —
particularly rhubarb and grapefruit. Wines, vinegars,
pickles and lemon juice can have the same effect.
Other causes can include gastric reflux, where acid
comes up to the mouth from the stomach. People with
eating disorder like bulimia often have sensitive teeth,
thanks to acid erosion from vomiting.
Excessive teething grinding can wear enamel away,
and tooth-whitening procedures can cause temporary
sensitivity.
What You Can Do:
A few tweaks to your dental regime and diet really
could hel