Pick the right toothbrush and toothpaste for sensitive teeth

A guide to picking the right toothbrush and toothpaste for your sensitive teeth

Written By: Dr Anitha Anchan | Updated : June 3, 2015 7:35 AM IST

Improper dental practices is one of the reasons for teeth sensitivity. Picking the right toothbrush and toothpaste can go a long way in relieving sensitivity.

The right toothbrush

Teeth, though hard structures, are not indestructible and using a wrong brush can damage them. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking up a toothbrush. Many varieties of toothbrushes are available in the market. So, how do you pick the right one?

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Avoid hard-bristle toothbrushes. Vigorous brushing with a hard bristled toothbrush can also lead to enamel wear and gum recession, exposing the dentin.
Use brushes with soft bristles. Soft-bristle toothbrushes are not too harsh on the gums and the root surface. They effectively remove plaque and debris from your teeth and protect the sensitive tooth enamel as well.
Make sure that the bristles on the toothbrush have rounded tips.
Choose the right sized toothbrush that complements the size of your mouth and your teeth.
Look beyond your good old toothbrush. There are ultrasonic toothbrushes, electric ones and more.
A worn out toothbrush not only cleans your teeth improperly, it may even damage your gums. Change your toothbrush every two to three months. Change it sooner if the bristles become splayed.

The right toothpaste

Use low-abrasion toothpaste specially made for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes make the teeth less sensitive, and also contain fluoride to help protect your teeth against decay. Desensitizing toothpastes work by either occlusion of dentin tubules or desensitization /blocking the nerves.

Use low abrasive fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride blocks off the dentinal tubules so that the nerves don t get stimulated.
Avoid using baking soda or other kinds of coarse tooth powders as they can do your teeth a great deal of harm. They are highly abrasive and when used directly on teeth they may damage the tooth enamel.
Toothpastes with potassium reduce dentin hypersensitivity by inactivating nerves. Don't rinse after brushing for at least 30 minutes as rinsing may reduce their efficacy.
Toothpastes containing arginine and calcium carbonate have been proven to provide lasting relief from sensitive teeth. Directly applying and massaging the toothpaste on the sensitive teeth can provide instant relief.
Toothpastes containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) reduce demineralization and promote remineralization.

A handy tip

Soon after you eat or drink acidic foods, the acids in the food weaken the enamel of your teeth. Brushing soon after eating or drinking acidic foods can increase the risk of tooth abrasion. Wait at least 30 minutes after meals to brush so that the saliva secreted in the mouth can neutralise the acids. You can use a neutralising mouthwash too.

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References:

1. Cummins D. Recent advances in dentin hypersensitivity: clinically proven treatments for instant and lasting sensitivity relief. Am J Dent. 2010 May;23 Spec No A:3A-13A. Review. PubMed PMID: 21284246.

2. Ceci M, Mirando M, Beltrami R, Chiesa M, Poggio C. Protective effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate on enamel erosion: Atomic force microscopy studies. Scanning. 2015 Apr 27. doi: 10.1002/sca.21219. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25917931.

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