The Sweet & Sour Tooth
March 2010, The Sunday Times, Life
Thailand’s famous tom yam goong is synonymous with the Land of Smiles but some people grimace at it instead. They are the one with sensitive teeth and savouring the spicy and sourish soup is torture for them when the acidic concentration (pH level) in the dish triggers off pain in the tooth.
“Tooth sensitivity or dentine hypersensitivity arises when the dentine – the inner layer of the tooth – is exposed,” says Dr Tan Wah Ching, associate consultant from the Periodontics Unit at the National Dental Centre of Singapore. “The exposed dentine triggers pain in response to a variety of stimuli.”
Dr Tan describes the pain as “sharp but short in duration”. The stimuli include taking cold food and drinks as well as breathing cold air. The flow of fluid in the dentinal tubules can also trigger sensations in the tooth. When the stimuli cause a sudden change in pH level or temperature of the fluid from outside to inside, it can stimulate the nerve in the pulp that lies in the centre of the tooth.
“Tom yam soup is sourish,” says Dr Tan. “Anything that causes the fluid movement in the dentine tubules will trigger off tooth sensitivity.” Dentine can be exposed through chemical and mechanical factors. Consuming acidic food and drinks can lead to erosion of the protective layer of the tooth and expose the dentine.
Brushing teeth too hard, grinding your teeth when you sleep or a chipped tooth also lead to dentine exposure. Gum recession, which can be caused by periodontal diseases, also exposes the dentine.
“Prevention is the key,” says Dr Tan. “It does not mean that when you grow old, you’ll definitely get it.” She adds that people should start taking care of their teeth from a young age, learning the correct tooth brushing techniques, visiting the dentist to prevent periodontal diseases and limiting the intake of acidic foods.
“If you do eat acidic food, you must not brush immediately,” says Dr Tan. “The acid is still there. If you brush immediately, you will brush away part of the teeth.”
Dr Tab says that using toothpaste that is suitable for sensitive teeth is the least invasive way to deal with the problem. Such toothpastes block the passage to the nerves and pulp of the teeth. Another form of treatment involves the dentist applying a permanent sealant on the tooth. Dr Tan advises people who have sensitive teeth to visit their dentists.
“The dentist first needs to diagnose that it is indeed dentine hypersensitivity,” she says. “The dentist then has to look at what are the predisposing factors such as brushing techniques and diet as well as other problems like bulimia or gastric reflux. All these need to be taken care of first before starting the treatment."
Read article clipping here