1. If your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold and the sensitivity only lasts for a few seconds it could well be caused by receding gums exposing the root surfaces of your teeth. Very often one of the sensitive toothpastes like Sensodyne or Colgate ProRelief will help. These can be used as a normal toothpaste and can also be used like an ointment before you go to bed i.e. rub a little of the paste onto the sensitive tooth/teeth and leave it there overnight and do this for at least 2 weeks.
2. So what can cause sensitive teeth? – If you brush your teeth too soon after having an acidic drink or food you can wear away the tooth surface which has been softened by the acid. It is therefore best to wait 45-60mins after eating/drinking before you brush.
3. Brushing too hard can cause sensitivity. It is more difficult to brush too hard with an electric toothbrush so these are a good idea. If you use a manual toothbrush then go for a medium texture. It is actually the toothpaste that is the abrasive part so make sure that your toothpaste is not one of the smokers variety that is harder on your teeth. Also ensure that it has Fluoride in it.
4. Other causes of sensitivity can be defective fillings, tooth decay and cracked teeth. These tend to be less responsive to sensitive toothpaste. You may well need to resort to pain killers to help these at the moment.
5. Don’t forget, particularly during nice weather, that a lot of drinks are very acidic and will dissolve your teeth and cause sensitivity. So when you are sitting down with a nice glass of cold Prosecco, Coke, orange juice or fruit tea to name a few your poor teeth will be squealing HELP!!

A Little Reminder

Lastly a little reminder of a few things that will make the coming weeks kinder on your teeth and gums:

• Make sure you brush twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Ensure you don’t rinse out the toothpaste after brushing as it has much more of a beneficial effect if it is left on the teeth
• Clean in between your teeth EVERY day with either floss, TePes or other cleaning aids that you have been shown by your dentist or hygienist
• Reduce sugar intake in food or drink to just 4 times a day. Your teeth should be able to cope with that. Any more frequent and your risk of developing tooth decay increases dramatically. If you allow tooth decay to develop, it can lead to problems including toothache! The effect of any sugary food and drink on your teeth lasts for up to an hour so be careful and look out for hidden sugars
• Bleeding from your mouth when you brush your teeth is usually because your gums are inflamed – you need to try and determine where the bleeding is coming from and clean more in that area not less.

We hope that you find these tips helpful. Let’s hope that you don’t need to use any of them. If you do, don’t forget that we are on the other end of the phone to give you further advice on 01293 782772 where you will be directed to your dentist for a telephone consultation.