FOR THE DENTAL PATIENT ...

The size and shape of your brush should fit your Preventing mouth, allowing you to reach all areas easily. dReplace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A and treating tooth worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth and can irritate your gums. sensitivity dClean between your teeth with floss or ooth sensitivity can have a number of another interdental cleaner daily. This helps causes. Some of the more common cul- remove plaque and food particles from between prits are caries (tooth decay), cracked or your teeth and under the gumline. fractured teeth, trauma, tooth grinding dVisit your dentist regularly for professional Tor clenching, worn fillings or tooth enamel, and cleanings and oral examinations. gingivae (gums) that have pulled away from the tooth roots as a result of gum disease or vigor- Can tooth sensitivity be treated? ous brushing. Tooth sensitivity can be treated. See your den- In healthy teeth, enamel protects the crowns, tist. He or she can help identify the cause and the part of the tooth that you see above the may suggest one of several treatments. Depend- gumline. The roots of healthy teeth are coated ing on the cause, your dentist may recommend with a thin protective layer called “cementum.” that you try a desensitizing toothpaste for use Under the enamel and the cementum is a more at home. These toothpastes contain compounds porous layer of tooth called “dentin.” The dentin that help prevent the irritants from stimulating layer contains microscopic tubules or canals the nerve inside the tooth. Several uses usually that connect with the pulp of the tooth. The are required before the sensitivity is reduced. pulp is in the center of the tooth and contains Some higher-acid mouthrinses also may in- the tooth’s nerve and blood supply. When irri- crease tooth sensitivity, and your dentist may tants such as foods or liquids come into contact recommend switching to another brand. with the exposed dentinal tubules, or when In-office treatments also are available. For excessive pressure is applied against a cracked example, fluoride gel treatments strengthen the tooth, a pain response can be triggered. tooth enamel and help reduce sensations that irritate the root. Other treatments, such as fill- How can I prevent tooth sensitivity? ings, crowns, inlays, bonding, fluoride varnishes Good oral hygiene is your best defense against or desensitizing agents, can be used to repair most oral health problems, including tooth sen- areas of the tooth that are damaged or to cover sitivity. Poor daily dental hygiene allows bacte- areas that are exposed by gum recession. In ria to collect around and between the teeth. If some cases, when the gum has pulled away from these bacteria (plaque) are not removed, they the tooth, your dentist may recommend a surgi- can harden into calculus (tartar), which can cal procedure called a “gingival graft” or “gum build up and cause your gums to recede around graft” to replace the tissue that has receded. If the teeth. This is called “gingival” or “gum” dis- your sensitivity is severe or does not respond to ease or “recession.” Gum recession exposes the other treatments, your dentist may suggest root roots of your teeth, which, in turn, leaves your canal treatment. teeth more susceptible to sensitivity. Talk with your dentist about your treatment op- Other situations that may increase your risk tions and how you can prevent tooth sensitivity. n of gum recession include tobacco use, oral pierc- Prepared by the American Dental Association (ADA) Division of ings (which can irritate the gums), use of some Science. Copyright © 2013 American Dental Association. Unlike other portions of JADA, the print version of this page may be clipped medications or even changes in female hormone and photocopied as a handout for patients without reprint permis- levels during puberty, pregnancy or menopause. sion from the ADA Publishing Division. Any other use, copying or Brushing your teeth harshly, using too much distribution of this material, whether in printed or electronic form and including the copying and posting of this material on a website, pressure or using a hard-bristled toothbrush also is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of the ADA Pub- may cause your gums to recede, exposing the lishing Division. tooth’s root. The American Dental Association rec- “For the Dental Patient” provides general information on dental ommends you follow a good oral hygiene routine. treatments to dental patients. It is designed to prompt discussion d between dentist and patient about treatment options and does not Brush your teeth gently twice a day with a substitute for the dentist’s professional assessment based on the soft-bristled brush and a fluoride toothpaste. individual patient’s needs and desires.

1084 JADA 144(9) http://jada.ada.org September 2013