Enamel erosion and gum recession expose tiny channels in your teeth which lead to the tooth's nerve centre. When hot and cold food or drinks or cold air contact the tooth surface sensation is carried down these channels. There are two main approaches to stopping the sensitivity. One is by blocking up the channels and another is by desensitising the nerve endings.
Sensodyne and other potassium nitrate containing toothpastes
Potassium ions depolarise nerve endings in the teeth, stopping them from sending pain signals. It can take 2-4 weeks of using this type of toothpaste for you to feel the benefit.
Colgate Pro Relief
This toothpaste contains arginine and calcium and and the particles are the right size to blocks the channels in the teeth. This should work immediately, but the effect can be lost throughout the day.
This product contains caesin phosphopeptide (milk protein) and amorphous calcium phosphate. The calcium phosphate blocks up the channels in the teeth and the milk protein provides some stickiness to help keep it there and provide a protective protein later.
- When using toothpaste for sensitive teeth don't rinse after brushing. If you do you will immediately wash away the toothpaste and it won't have a chance to do any good. If you spit but don't rinse a layer of toothpaste will remain on your teeth for a little while.
- Also try rubbing some toothpaste over the sensitive areas and leaving it on when you go to bed at night.
- Avoid acidic foods which strip away the protective protein layer covering your teeth. Eating diary foods helps the protective protein form and also helps to neutralise acids. Oxalate rich foods like bananas, spinach and rhubarb form oxalate crystals which can help block up the channels in your teeth in the same way as some toothpastes for sensitive teeth.