Dealing with the pain of sensitive teeth  

On a hot day, a drink of ice-cold water sends you into bursts of discomfort, and on a cold February evening, a cup of hot coffee brings pain. It is the most painful feeling.

 

The cause? Sensitive teeth. More than a passing feeling, the hurt can last all day long. The nerves in our teeth are more exposed to pain, and it is a sign that they're weakened. If not treated, the consequences could be worse than mere bursts of pain. Tooth decay and other related teeth diseases could follow.

 

Many Filipinos go through life thinking that this is temporary when, in fact, this is a permanent state. In a survey commissioned by Glaxo Smith Kline, as many as seven out of 10 Filipinos may have sensitive teeth. This was what prompted the Philippine Dental Association, together with GSK, to launch a campaign not only to raise awareness of the illness but to encourage patients to see their dentists more often.   

The emphasis, said the two groups, is to foster a culture of prevention. This will be done through a thousand or so dentist/advocates working throughout the country with support from the two organizations. 

 

“[Sensitive teeth] is acquired by nature,” says Dean Arturo de Leon, president of the Philippine Dental Association and dean of the College of Dentistry at the Our Lady of Fatima University, “because the dental tubules [are] protected by the dentine, and there are activities that could reduce this protective coating.” 

 

He cites, for instance, improper brushing of teeth as one way this layer could be weakened. The dentine layer is permeable and is thus highly susceptible to this level of pain. Another possible cause of weakening would be the excessive consumption of food and drink, especially acidic drinks, that could weaken both the enamel (the outer covering) and the dentine.

 

Dr. de Leon cited a possible way of treating dentine hypersensitivity is through behavioral modification. Under a dentist’s advice, the patient learns what and what not to do to mitigate dentine hypersensitivity’s onset. This includes the use of special toothpaste with protective agents to help prevent things from getting worse. Another, which was not mentioned, is through direct dental intervention, by means of fluoride gels, sealants or caps, depending on the degree of the condition. If not treated, the pulp (the bottom layer of the tooth) would be excessively inflamed, and this could lead to dead teeth.

 

The Department of Health welcomed this move. Spokesperson and head of the DOH’s epidemiological service Dr. Eric Tayag noted that “with all the work we have been doing, including [lobbying for] the sin tax bill and [looking out for the] coronavirus, we are glad that there is an effort being done with respect to oral health.”

 

The PDA continues to encourage patients to see their dentists twice a year. “Before, one only went to see a dentist if the pain was worse,” Dr. de Leon adds, “Don’t let pain be the compelling reason to seek professional help.”

 

So if one hasn’t seen the dentist lately, who knows? Perhaps the pain will no longer be a problem, and we can continue to have our ice cream or coffee without fear of pangingilo. – KDM, GMA News