Tooth Sensitivity Causes and Management

Tooth sensitivity is a discomforting sensation in one or more teeth that is triggered by hot, cold, sweet, or sour foods and drinks, or even breathing cold air. The pain can be irritation of the tooth to sharp, sudden, and severe shooting pain that is felt deep inside the tooth.

Tooth sensitivity occur when the underlying layer of the teeth the dentin becomes exposed as a result of several factors such as wearing of tooth, decay of teeth, exposed tooth roots, or receding gum tissue. The cavity inside the tooth is a vital organ which nourishes the tooth structures through numerous blood vessels and nerve endings. Dentin that envelope the pulp contain thousands of tiny tubules leading to it called dentinal tubules. There is plasma-like biological fluid present in the dentinal tubules, the changes can trigger mechanoreceptors present on nerves located at the pulpal aspect of the tooth thereby eliciting a pain response. The flow of the biological fluid inside the dentinal tubules allow the stimuli such as the hot, cold, or sweet food to reach the nerve endings in the tooth which results in pain. This hydrodynamic flow can be increased by cold, air pressure, drying, sugar, sour, or forces acting onto the tooth. Hot or cold food or drinks, and physical pressure are usual triggering factors for teeth sensitivity.

There are many factors which leads to the development of tooth sensitivity and these are

1. Teeth grinding: The grinding or clenching of the tooth may wear down the enamel and expose the underlying dentin.

2. Hard brushing: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush in the long run can wear down the enamel and cause dentin to be exposed.

3. Tooth caries: The plaque build-up around the tooth and the resultant bacterial acid production on the root surfaces can corrode the enamel which results in exposure of dentin causing sensitivity.

4. Gum recession: The recession of the gums occurs when the gums move away from the surface of the tooth due to hard brushing or bad brushing techniques or conditions such as gum disease, periodontal disease etc. make the root surface exposed.

5. Gum disease: Inflamed and sore gum tissue caused by gingivitis or gum disease may cause sensitivity due to the loss of supporting ligaments, which exposes the root surface.

6. Cracked teeth: Chipped or broken tooth may cause irritation to the dentinal tubules while passage of fluid and bacteria from plaque into the pulp causes inflammation.

7. Age: Normal tooth wear causes abrading away of enamel and opening up dentinal surface exposing dentinal tubules resulting in sensitivity.

8. Acidic foods: Regular consumption of foods with high acid content such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles and tea can cause enamel erosion.

9. Tooth whitening products: Tooth whitening products and toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide contain products which bleaches away the enamel that contributes to teeth sensitivity.

10. Mouthwash use: Long-term use of some over-the-counter mouthwashes that contain acids may  worsen tooth sensitivity if you have exposed dentin.

11. Routine dental procedures: Sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, root planing, crown placement, and tooth restoration.

Steps to Prevent Sensitivity

1. Avoid teeth grinding. Avoid frequent teeth clenching. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, use a mouth guard.

2. Use a soft bristled toothbrush. A soft bristled brush will result in less toothbrush abrasion to the tooth surface and less irritation to the gums. Brush gently and carefully around the gum line so as not to injure and remove the gum tissue.

3. Promote good oral hygiene: Good oral hygiene measures such as washing mouth thoroughly after every meal, brushing the teeth daily, flossing of teeth, avoiding sweets and excess carbohydrates, etc will prevent earlier tooth caries and preventing tooth sensitivity. Follow proper brushing and flossing techniques to thoroughly clean all parts of your teeth and mouth.

4. Use desensitizing toothpaste. There are several brands of toothpaste available for sensitive teeth. Use the toothpaste that reduces the sensitivity the most. Use a fluoridated toothpaste, the fluoride in the tooth paste plugs the dentinal tubules reducing the sensitivity.

5. Reduce consumption of acidic foods. Frequent consumption of highly acid foods can gradually dissolve tooth enamel and lead to dentin exposure. They may also aggravate the sensitivity and start the pain reaction.

6. Use fluoridated dental products. Regular use of fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinse can decrease tooth sensitivity.

8. Avoid over-the-counter mouth washes. Avoid using over-the-counter mouth washes and instead use warm saline gargle, which is a warm solution of salt water.

7. Early consultation: Make an early consultation with your dentist as early as possible when there is a fracture of tooth, caries exposed tooth, root exposed tooth, gingival recession etc.

Health Benefits of Apple

An apple is a fruit of the apple tree of the species Malus domestica, in the rose family (Rosaceae). Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe. The tree originated in Western Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii is still found today. It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruit. Apples grow on small deciduous trees that blossom in the spring and produce the fruit in the fall. The apple forms a tree that is small and deciduous, reaching 3 to 12 meters tall, with a broad often densely twiggy crown. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a wide range of desired characteristics. Different cultivars are bred for various tastes and uses including cooking, fresh eating, and cider production. Domestic apples are generally propagated by grafting, although wild apples grow readily from seed.

Apples have been present in the mythology and and religions of many cultures. Apples are often eaten raw, but can also be found in many foods such as desserts and drinks. Sliced apples turn brown with exposure to air due to the conversion of natural phenolic substances into melanin upon exposure to oxygen. Apples can be canned or juiced. They are milled to produce apple cider and filtered for apple juice. The juice can be fermented to make cider, ciderkin, and vinegar.

As the proverb says "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," is true when considering the health benefits it gives when consuming it. Apples are often eaten raw the whole fruit including the skin is suitable for human consumption except the seeds, which are slightly poisonous. The major health benefits of taking apple are described below.

1. Helps in digestion​:  The fiber content, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. Regular consumption of apples ensures smooth bowel movements and helps in preventing constipation and stomach disorders.

2. Promotes healthy teeth: Eating apples helps cleaning the teeth and gum and reduces the incidence of cavities in teeth. The fiber in the apple cleanses the teeth and the antibacterial  properties keeps the bacteria away.

3. Prevents heart disease: It helps in weight loss and controlling cholesterol. The fiber contained in apples reduces cholesterol by preventing reabsorption.

4. Prevents cancer: Apples possess flavonoids and phenolic compounds which may be cancer-protective and demonstrate antioxidant activity. The predominant phenolic phytochemicals in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2.​The dietary fibers also help protect the mucous membrane of the colon from exposure to toxic substances by binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon.

5. Improves cognitive function: It prevents decline in cognitive performance that accompanies dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging.

6. Prevents anemia: Apple supplements adequate amounts of iron and other minerals that helps to improve iron deficiency states such as anemia.

7. Helps recovering: It is often given to patients to help a fast recovery from their illness. Apples are known to remove weakness and add vigour and vitality in weak people.

8. Skin Care: Pastes of apple and honey or apple and milk when applied on the skin increase its shine and glow.

9. Eye care: Apples are believed to improve eye-sight. It also helps in treating night blindness.

10. Protects from inflammation: Apple contains vitamin C and beta-carotene. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. It helps the body to develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

11. Helps in metabolism: Apple is a good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). These vitamins help as co-factors for enzymes in metabolism as well as in various other synthetic functions inside the body.

12. Apple also contains small amount of minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure and counters the bad influences of sodium.

 

Although many beneficial health effects have been found on eating apples, there are some drawbacks also. The seeds of apple are slightly poisonous and so avoid taking it along with seeds. Two forms of allergies are also seen to various proteins found in the fruit in some people.

Buy fresh, bright, firm textured apples that indicates an undamaged fruit. Apples are among the foods on which pesticide residues have been frequently found. So it is recommended to thoroughly rinse the entire apple under a stream of pure running water while gently scrubbing the skin with a natural bristle brush for 10-15 seconds.​

Tooth Pain Causes and Its Management

Tooth Pain or toothache is a pain that occurs around a tooth, teeth, or jaws. Most often it is caused due to a dental condition such as a tooth infection, dental decay that forms cavity, injury to tooth, cracked tooth, exposed tooth root, gum disease, or loss of tooth itself. Pain can also occur after tooth extraction. Pain can sometimes originate from other areas that radiates to the jaw, thus appearing like a tooth pain. Disorders of the jaw joint, sinuses, ear infections, or throat pain can also cause pain that is referred to the tooth and experience as toothache. Dental pain can also be caused by remote causes such as occasional heart problems like the pain of angina ie. deficient supply of oxygen to the heart. Nerve disorders like neuralgias and other nerve ailments also rarely cause tooth pain.

Dental Causes of Tooth Pain

Common dental causes of toothache include dental cavities, dental abscess, gum disease, irritation of the tooth root, cracked tooth syndrome, broken filling, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, impaction, and eruption.

1. The most common cause of toothache is dental caries. Dental caries cause dental cavities, which are holes in the two outer layers of a tooth such as the enamel and dentin. The bacteria in the mouth convert simple sugars into acid. The acid softens and dissolves the enamel and dentin, creating cavities. The pulp of the tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins or by foods and liquids that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet, thereby causing toothaches.

2. Severe injury to the pulp can lead to the death of pulp tissue, resulting in tooth infection. A dental cavity or decay that has inflamed the pulp if left untreated will progress to an abscessed tooth. It creates pressure in the root portion of the tooth and produce swelling and blisters near the tooth.

3. Gum disease or periodontal disease refers to inflammation of the soft tissue, the gingiva and the abnormal loss of bone that surrounds which holds the teeth in place. Gum disease is caused by toxins secreted by the bacteria in the plaque and debris that accumulate over time along the gum line.  Gum disease can expose tooth roots making them more sensitive to hot and cold foods.

4. Cracked, split, or fractured teeth can cause inflammation of the pulp and the tissues around the tooth. Cracked tooth syndrome is a toothache that is caused by a broken tooth without any associated cavity or advanced gum disease. Biting on the area of tooth fracture can cause severe sharp pains. These fractures are usually caused by chewing candies, hard food substances such as a bone, fish bones etc. or accidental biting on objects such as pencils, nuts, falls etc.

Other Causes

1. Temporomandibular joint disorders can cause pain which usually occurs in or around the ears or lower jaw. The TMJ hinges the lower jaw to the skull, which is responsible for chewing or talking. TMJ disorders can be caused by different types of problems such as injury, arthritis, or jaw muscle fatigue from habitually clenching or grinding teeth.

2. Sinusitis, ear and throat infections may sometimes cause referred pain to the tooth.

Tooth Pain Symptoms

Toothache along with the jaw pain is the common complaint noticed. There may be severe pain to pressure, hot, or cold stimuli. The pain may persist for longer than 15 seconds after the stimulus is removed. As the area of inflammation increases, the pain becomes more severe. It may radiate to the cheek, the ear, or the jaw.

Pain with chewing

Hot or cold sensitivity

Bleeding or discharge from around a tooth or gums

Swelling around a tooth or swelling of the jaw

Injury or trauma to the area

Associated dental decay or gum disease

Toothache needs to be differentiated from other sources of pain in the face

Treatment for Tooth Pain

For toothaches

Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used. These are needed to be taken as directed on the package at a given schedule. Avoiding very cold or hot foods will moderate the pain. Temporary relief may be obtained from biting on a cotton ball soaked in the oil of cloves. A consultation with a dentist will be needed. Clearing away of decayed tissues and proper restoration of the tooth is recommended. Treatment of the gum and periodontal tissues may be necessary in certain cases. Extraction of the tooth may be necessary in irreversible damage to tooth and surrounding tissues.

For jaw pain

Aspirin may be helpful for problems of pain in the temporomandibular joint in adults. An appointment with a doctor or dentist will need to relieve the pain symptoms.