Products for Senisitive Teeth

Lux23

Hi. I have a bit of a problem with sensitivity at the moment, its weird as its not based in any one area and tends to dart around my mouth. Sometimes if I catch my nail off wool I will get a shooting pain in my teeth and its really uncomfortable. I suppose it feels more like static if you know what I mean.

I have been to the dentist recently for a clean and check up and I scheduled for a pin hole filling next month (funny enough there is never any sensitivity in that tooth). The feeling is starting to ebb away slowly but can still be annoying so I was wondering what people thought were the best products, I normally brush my teeth with Blanx, floss and then gently rub them with Sensodyne. Then I will use Listerine if I can stand it, just makes me feel a bit ill. (I drank a bottle of it as a kid and the taste makes me gag now)

Is there anything else I could do or use to ease the feeling. I saw feeling as its not really painful just more annoying.

I just want people to know I can spell sensitive!!

ballsymchugh

it'd help if you didn't use the listerine. rub the sensodyne on the teeth and leave it there overnight.

anyone know how artic lichen whitens your teeth??

Lux23

So should I only use listerine if I have gum problems? Are there any light mouthwashes available?

ballsymchugh

i wouldn't use it at all. if you brush and floss properly you should be grand.
as for a light mouthwash, erm.... tap water?
seriously, mechanical removal of plaque is a better habit than hoping the mouthwash will get the last bit away.

Lux23

Ok, I am more than happy to stop using the stuff. Its manky. Thanks for your help.

ballsymchugh

is now a good time to tell you that it was invented by some guy who wanted to clean the counters in his bar?!!

Lux23

Like superglue was invented to stick American soldiers back together in Vietnam.

digzy

ballsymchugh wrote: »

it'd help if you didn't use the listerine. rub the sensodyne on the teeth and leave it there overnight.

anyone know how artic lichen whitens your teeth??

i'm unaware of any factual basis for this advice. The paste will disperse within secons! I dont see any reason to cease mouthrinsing either .
Once the cause of sensitivity isnt decay or gum disease there's very little can be done-though the colgate ad is quite persuasive with the shoppers rubbing it on! The myth is perpetuated by reps to dentists who should know better.it's a nightmare to treat and bar some type of restoration of lost enamel, i've yet to find a reliable cure.

The sensodyne pro-enamel is another howler of a myth. As if rubbing this magic paste will restore lost enamel!! Once again there are some of us who should know better.

Toothpastes are all quite similar. There isn't one that will prevent disease more than another.I use colgate total as do most colleagues.U need one that contains fluoride.
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ballsymchugh

the sensodyne is the toothpaste that luxy mentioned, that's all. as for rubbing it on the teeth, i've been advising that for a long time (not necc sensodyne, but a good fluoride toothpaste like you said, none of that herbal malarkey) with good results, as have the periodontists who ran this course, http://www.periocourses.co.uk, who dealt with a lot more sensitive teeth than me.
ideally, he/she would be better with duraphat that will stick overnight, but that's not really an option unless he/she buys a tube online...AHEM!!

as for the mouthwash argument, there's a growing consensus that biofilm is becoming resistant to some mouthwashes, developing channels that will allow the mouthwash to flow through, and they'll clump together so that the outer bacteria will protect the inner bacteria. it's called quorum sensing, and it's in here somewhere!!
http://www.erc.montana.edu/res-lib99-sw/pubs/Topics/biomech.htm#Detachment

there is no point in trying to achieve a decrease in sensitivity by washing away the toothpaste straight away. even if it will disperse, it'll last more than a few seconds interdentally.

by the way, a good receptionist will make sure you never have to deal with a rep, but they'll still leave you the freebies.

digzy

Dont worry, I've better things to do than scouring the net for stats.You'll get stats to back up whatever suits you. I'm just letting you know my opinion, derived from almost 10 years in private practice and from speaking to colleagues. i've advised patients in the past re rubbing on various pastes,sensodyne,colgate sensetive, sensikin and tooth mousse.once you factor in the halo effect it's reasonable to conclude that this practice doesn't cure the problem.Managing it at best.From a common sense viewpoint if you factor in where the sensitivity comes from (buccal aspect at gingival margin) there's no product I'm aware off with the ability to adhere and produce the desired effect.

I must backtrack on my earlier post about the mouthrinsing.Your scientific argument does make sense. However, i still feel that using a chlorhexidane based rinse helps to treat acute periodontal problems. However, their long term use isn't advised due to your point earlier.I must say that I cant see your standard rinse doing much harm.I'm told there's a study that found a similar result whether using listerine or corsodyl! On the other hand I wonder if the high alcohol content in listerine, etc could have a dehydrating effect on the mouth, especially at night when saliva flow decreases!

ballsymchugh

managing is all that people can expect anyway, curing the problem would mean reforming enamel. ever heard of this??

http://www.rexresearch.com/chentoth/chentth.htm

by the way, i didn't have to scour the web for info, i was at the course given by the guy who has that website. he occasionally gives lectures in belfast which i seriously recommend.

digzy

no chance. I've better things to do with my time when i'm not working:)

Big_G

Wow. I don't think anybody posting on an internet forum has the right to accuse anyone else of internet nerdery, least of all a colleague.:D

I have had some success with with iontophoresis to treat sensitivity cases and also self etching primers and resin infusion. It blocks dentinal tubules.

I've tried the new colgate pro-argin stuff and its pretty good.

I agree about the mouthwash issue. I do think though that it is a useful adjunct to mechanical measures in some patients.

Sensitivity is one of the most difficult things to treat. I think different patients perceive it differently either. Some will come in and say they are in agony and others merely say they get a tingle when they drink something cold, but they both have dentine hypersensitivity.

digzy

i dont recall accusing anyone of anything-simply stating my personal choices with free time.i've used seal/protect before with varying levels of success. Most clients felt the effect diminished with time.

day dreamer

Hi Lux

If you brush and floss very well then you shouldnt need a mouthrinse. Mouthrinses are useful for those at high risk of decay or gum disease, treatment of some gum conitions or if you have braces.

Otherwise mechanical removal with brush and floss is most important. Can you remember how you felt after drinking the Listerine, you must have been pretty drunk as it has high alcohol content? No wonder it makes you sick!

The sensitivity is hard to treat and there is no magic cure but Sensodyne seems to be the most commonly use toothpaste for it. Try to avoid the triggers. If you have exposed roots or dentine they may need to be covered over or sealed