Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Stellajane]

Ouch - I'm having lots of problems with very sensitive teeth due to worn enamel.

Apparently the worn areas have increased in the past 12 months ( exactly the time my dentist advised me to switch from my usual manual toothbrush to an electric one!)    I'm not at all pleased that by following his advice I've seemingly made matters worse!

I was just wondering if anyone finds the Pronamel toothpastes of any benefit (I already use Sensodyne products anyway) or if anyone's had a particular treatment at the dentist which has helped.

[Dancinggirl]

Stellajane - I'm really surprised you are finding the electric toothbrush an issue over enamel wear - when used properly the electric toothbrush is supposed to reduce the risk or erosion because it stops you from brushing too hard!!!
The sensitivity may be more to do with gum recession - sadly common as we age??  I would definitely talk to your dentist about this.  I certainly use the Pronamel toothpaste but I do need to use floss and tepees to make sure I clean between my teeth really well or I do get more sensitivity due to impacted food. Being over vigorous with any toothbrush can be a problem for the gums. DG x

[Urbanchick]

My teeth have been a nightmare for last two years.   Receding gums being the culprit.    They are now 'stable' after one extraction and one implant, but I worry at any sign of pain or bleeding.    I use sensory experience repair pro namely but find their true white just as good.    About four weeks ago I got a weird sensitivity issue that lasted three days and then went.  I think it is just part of the whole aging process.

I initially wondered if a new electric toothbrush , the Phillips sonic one, was to blame for my gum issues but my dentist (private) says it is just a coincidence.  My gums went funny really dramatically and quickly and the dentist suggested it was sudden loss of oestrogen and not unusual.

Try the teepee things rather than floss and put sensory me directly onto the tooth after cleaning.   The repair one actually builds up a protective layer.  Avoid mouthwash as this tends to strip it away.

[Evelyn63]

Very interesting post.  I too have suffered like Stellsjane all my life, yet did everything possible regarding good oral hygiene.  The electric toothbrush comments struck a chord with me, as I've also experienced problems since switching from manual.  I mentioned it to the hygienist at my last visit, and she said its down more to technique than the actual brush.  She showed me the proper angle I should hold the brush and move it along gently. I was using it like a normal one, and " brushing" rather than letting it to the wiork !  I am trying now to adjust my technique.   

I floss daily and use the little brushes too.  My gums gave me a lot of issues but thankfully seem to have settled again.

I will look for the toothpaste you mentioned. Never heard of it before .

[Dancinggirl]

 I am a dentists daughter yet have had terrible trouble with my teeth despite good cleaning etc. - I intend to hold onto my teeth so for me the money spent on a private dentist is money well spent - I even have to travel an hour and half each way. I researched it carefully and found a dentist trained at Guy's - my father was a Guy's man I know it is still one of the best for training dentists.  At the time I knew I needed a complex root canal treatment and this dentist specialised in this.  I feel so much safer with him - he did such a thorough initial examination and I get a super clean each time at the check ups. It turned out I didn't need nearly as many things done as the NHS dentist was recommending!!!! I had had a very good NHS dentist in London but when I moved to Suffolk, the NHS dental practise kept shunting me to different dentists over the 4 years with all saying something different and I simply got the impression they were looking for something simple they could do to make some money.  DG x

[CLKD]

Why would an electric toothbrush be better than hand-held?  I find them messy  so they don't help in my dental hygiene.

I use Sensodyne as recommended by my Dentist when the gums/teeth are sensitive.  He suggested that I put a small blob onto my finger and rub round all the gum line, pressing it into the 'gaps' below the gum.  It certainly stopped sensitivity for me    and I'm the biggest sceptic in the World  . 

Go back to the hand-held brush.  The enamel can be worn quite quickly by undue pressure.  My Dentist suggested it, vaguely but I refused having tried one years++ ago.  Apparently rinsing with Corsidel [sp] once a day can help.  I use Tip-pe brushes size according to the gaps and they really do clean out what the brush can't touch.

For acute pain I take Nurofen - Dad used to apply oil of cloves, ?osmosis?

[Lizab]

I'm not sure what's available where you are, but I get this issue from time to time. My dentist said something about calcification but it looks like receding gums to me. He recommended a mouthwash, I think it's Act Restoring? It does help, and I tend to stop using it when the teeth improve then start again when I get trouble. I know I should use it daily but I never have adopted a habit of using mouthwash.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Stellajane - I just wanted to add - enamel erosion is usually down to acid erosion by the foods we eat - fruit juices, sugar, vinegar, caffeine, wine etc. - brushing our teeth is rarely the cause of erosion, unless you are using a very hard brush and brushing too vigorously.  Any yellowing of the teeth is usually staining, which a good clean by the dentist/hygienist should solve.  I'm afraid the NHS dentists rarely do a really good clean these days. There are whitening treatments offered by many dentists privately as well.  Dg x

[Ju Ju]

My dentist recommended Colgate sensitive Pro-relief mouthwash, which I find using just once a day keeps the super sensitivity at bay. Unfortunately the supermarkets round here no longer stock it, but Boots does.

[CLKD]

It is advised not to brush teeth for at least 2 hours after eating as the reaction of paste against food acids can increase enamel damage.

[Dana]

I've had sensitive teeth for years and for me Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief tooth paste works much better than Sensodyne. My dentist says it's gum recession which is due to aging. Also an electric tooth brush works much better for me because it's gentler than a manual brush and my teeth always feel much cleaner after using an electric.

[Ju Ju]

Trouble is Colgate toothpastes contains SLS, which means you should rinse very, very thoroughly, while with sensodyne toothpastes can be applied to the sensitive area, as well as used to clean your teeth, rinsing not necessary.

I haven't needed treatment since reducing my sugar intake considerably. I notice that my gums feel irritated when I do eat sugar. My dentist says just keep on doing what I am doing.

[CLKD]

That reminds me Ju Ju - when I was about 11 our Dentist told me and Dad [who took me to the appt.s] that sugars can get into gaps that bacteria can't 

[blogfrog]

Ju Ju- thanks, I didn't know about Colgate

[CLKD]

Thanks for the update - you've had a busy few months!