Having sensitive teeth is annoying. You can’t enjoy eating big spoonful of ice cream, chuck down hot tea, or chew on ice cubes. Fortunately, sensitive toothpaste works miraculously. Using it few times a week significantly reduces sensitivity caused by cold, hot, pressure, etc… But how does it work?
To understand the efficacy of sensitive tooth
Dental anatomy showing how sensitive toothpaste works
paste, you must learn a bit about dental anatomy. Our teeth consist of three layers; the enamel, dentin, and pulp. Enamel is the hard outer most layer that makes up the crown. Dentin, the yellowish middle layer, is full of pores. Finally, the inner most pulp layer, is where all the nerves are. Enamel does a pretty good job insulating the middle and inner layers from the harsh stuff that you put in your mouth (say frozen yogurt). However, situations like dental cavity or grinding, wear off this protective layer, exposing the vulnerable dentin. Additionally, if you have gum recession, and the root of your tooth is exposed, you are likely to experience sensitivity as well.
Some sensitive toothpastes contains potassium nitrate, an analgesics that numbs the nerves of the teeth. Other products contain strontium chloride; its particles plug up the pores on the dentin, resulting in less sensitive teeth.
