Sensitivity is often regarded as a good attribute, as sensitive people are more emotional. However, it is good to maintain balance and not always be sensitive.

Is Being Sensitive Always Good?

Introduction

&ldquo;She says I&rsquo;m not sensitive enough, Canny! Tell me what to do?&rdquo; shrieked Molar.

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&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not your job to become anything for her, let alone sensitive Mol&rsquo;, because if you change for her, there is something wrong with your roots,&rdquo; assured Canine.

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Canny was not so wrong. While being reasonably sensitive as a person is a basic human requirement, it&rsquo;s not the same with your teeth. They are hard structures and not built for weaknesses. Hence, if they cause any degree of discomfort, it must be addressed as soon as possible.&nbsp;

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Sensitivity of the teeth, also known as dentin hypersensitivity, is essentially a brief, sharp sensation of pain you feel because of exposed dentin in response to an external stimulus.&nbsp;

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Dentin is defined as the hard dense bony tissue which forms the bulk of a tooth lying under the enamel. The stimulus can be heat or cold, and even chemical in some occasions. Sensitivity of teeth can cause excruciating pain and become a hindrance in the daily routine. Hence, treating it becomes immensely important.

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Understanding Sensitive Teeth And Their Management

According to a dedicated study, the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity was 12.3%, and each patient had an average of 3.5 hypersensitive teeth. This hypersensitivity was higher in the age group 18-44 years compared with the participants who were of 65 years or older. The results also showed that sensitivity was higher in women than in men.&nbsp;

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Overall, it is safe to say that dentin hypersensitivity is a fairly common condition, with a reported prevalence between 4% - 69% in adults.&nbsp;Another research showed that the prevalence actually varied. However, an average of about 57% was reported. There are 40 million people in the U.S. that are affected with dentin hypersensitivity, 14.3% of which were dental patients. Around 8%-57% were from the adult dentate population, and up to 30% were adults who had sensitivity at some point during their lifetime.&nbsp;

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Research indicates that among the periodontal patients, the prevalence is much higher, between 60% - 98%.&nbsp;

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To conclude, it is fair to state that dentin hypersensitivity occurs in two peaks - the 1st one reporting at 20-30 years of age, and then the 2nd peak later in the 50s<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>.

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Dentin hypersensitivity is not always because of some underlying pathology; some people quite naturally and easily develop more sensitive teeth than the rest because of a thinner enamel. Enamel is basically the outer layer of your tooth which protects the dental integrity.&nbsp;

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There are a number of reasons as to why the tooth&rsquo;s enamel could be torn down<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Brushing your teeth extremely hard and with great force.</li>
	<li>Brushes come in a variety. Hence, using a hard variant of toothbrush might harm the enamel.</li>
	<li>Grinding your teeth.</li>
	<li>Eating or drinking foods that are high in acidic content.</li>
</ul>

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Other medical conditions which cause tooth sensitivity include <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/gerd-56">gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)</a>. The pathology is that when acid comes up from the stomach and oesophagus, it might splash on the teeth as well, causing them to wear down progressively.&nbsp;Conditions that induce frequent vomiting, like gastroparesis and bulimia nervosa, can also cause acid to wear down the enamel<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>.

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Nothing is a better diagnostic modality for all your dental problems other than a checkup with your dentist. Two visits in a year are recommended. Your dentist can have a look at the sensitivity during your routine dental cleaning, and do a visual exam as well. The use of dental instruments might bring up any undiscovered sensitivity. For example, an X-ray of your teeth helps rule out other causes like cavities.

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It is very important to treat sensitivity and relieve the patient of the immense pain they are in. Sensitivity has the potential to take away the joy you feel when you eat your favorite ice cream, or start your day with a hot cup of coffee.&nbsp;

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Even though it is a sharp pain sensation, there are some ways you can tackle sensitivity<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>:&nbsp;&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Desensitising&nbsp;Toothpaste: Desensitising toothpaste can help block the pain caused by sensitive teeth. You can see the result after several applications. The most active component of a desensitising toothpaste is potassium nitrate, which is a compound that blocks pain signals going all the way from your nerve in your tooth to your brain.</li>
	<li>Fluoride: Your dentist may recommend you to apply fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth. Fluoride helps to strengthen the worn down tooth enamel, and consequently reduce the pain.</li>
	<li>Desensitising&nbsp;Or Bonding: Exposed root surfaces are what essentially cause sensitivity. However, it is treatable by applying bonding resin to the sensitive root surfaces. Your dentist might need to apply a local anaesthesia&nbsp;for this procedure.</li>
	<li>Surgical Gum Graft: Sensitivity can also occur if you somehow lose a part of your gum tissue. As a fix, a small amount of gum tissue can be taken from any other place in your mouth and attached to the affected site. This can help protect exposed roots, which in turn reduces sensitivity.</li>
	<li>Root Canal: Root canal is the definitive treatment, if no other modalities are proving beneficial for your sensitive teeth. Root canal, also known as RCT, is a procedure which is used to treat problems in the dental pulp. RCT is titled as the most successful technique for treating tooth sensitivity.</li>
</ul>

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Researchers have now found definitive proof that the temperature sensor called the TRCP5 is responsible for transmitting cold sensations, and triggers the nerves. This creates pain and cold hypersensitivity. This sharp pain is considered as a warning alarm to protect a damaged tooth from further injury.&nbsp;

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It was explained in the research that as a response to the cold stimulus, the TRCP5 protein enables other molecules like calcium to interact with the cells. In a diseased state, the dental pulp is inflamed and the TRCP5 is overabundant, causing an increased electrical signalling.&nbsp;

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While the research team had a pharmacological target to minimise tooth sensitivity against the cold stimulus, it should be noted that clove oil has been used as a remedy for tooth pain for a very long time. Surprisingly, the active agent in clove oil was found to be eugenol, which is a chemical that has the potential to block TRCP5<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>.

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Conclusion

Aren’t you done with giving a mere pain such control of your life? How long before you actually have had enough? Passing down the sugary joy a chocolate molten lava cake brings? Avoiding the rush of a cup full of caffeine pumping through your body, energising the day? Ignoring the satisfaction of a blueberry slush on a sunny day? Why renounce the beauty of life when all you can do is visit your dentist and most likely get a prescribed toothpaste? It’s time you got back control of your food choices. And obviously, get rid of the pain.

Key Points

<ul>
	<li>Dentin hypersensitivity is essentially a brief, sharp sensation of pain you feel because of exposed dentin in response to an external stimulus.</li>
	<li>Dentin is defined as the hard dense bony tissue which forms the bulk of a tooth lying under the enamel.</li>
	<li>According to a dedicated study, the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity was 12.3% and each patient had an average of 3.5 hypersensitive teeth.</li>
	<li>Dentin hypersensitivity is much more prevalent in women compared to men.</li>
	<li>Dentin hypersensitivity is a fairly common condition with a reported prevalence between 4% and 69% in adults. However, another study showed the prevalence to be at an average of about 57%.</li>
	<li>Research shows that among the periodontal patients, the prevalence is much higher, that is 60% &ndash; 98%.</li>
	<li>Dentin hypersensitivity occurs in 2 peaks - the 1st one reporting at 20 to 30 years of age, and then the 2nd peak later in the 50s.</li>
	<li>Enamel is basically the outer layer of your tooth which protects the dental integrity, and thinning of this structure can cause sensitivity.</li>
	<li>Brushing really hard, using a hard toothbrush, or grinding your teeth excessively causes sensitivity to occur.</li>
	<li>Other medical conditions which cause tooth sensitivity include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).</li>
	<li>Two visits annually are recommended so that your dentist can have a look at the sensitivity during your routine dental cleaning.</li>
	<li>They might also order an X-ray of your teeth to rule out other causes like cavities.</li>
	<li>Options like desensitising toothpaste, application of fluoride, desensitising, surgical gum graft, and root canal can help treat the sensitivity.</li>
	<li>RCT is titled as the most successful technique for treating tooth sensitivity.</li>
	<li>Researchers have now found definitive proof that the temperature sensor called the TRCP5 is responsible for transmitting cold sensation and triggers the nerves to fire.</li>
	<li>In a diseased state, the dental pulp is inflamed and the TRCP5 is overabundant, causing an increased electrical signalling.</li>
	<li>Pharmacological approaches are being designed to efficiently target TRCP5.</li>
	<li>Surprisingly, it has been discovered that the active agent in clove oil is eugenol, which is a chemical that has the potential to block TRCP5. Cloves have been used for a really long time without the knowledge of the interaction of eugenol with TRCP5.</li>
</ul>

[1] Kanehira, M., Ishihata, H., Saito, M. (2015). Dentin Hypersensitivity: Etiology, Prevalence and Treatment Modalities. In: Sasaki, K., Suzuki, O., Takahashi, N. (eds) Interface Oral Health Science 2014. Springer, Tokyo.

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