Teething problems

You can over-brush your teeth apparently according to the Irish Dental Association.

While brushing your teeth is still obviously important,, the vigorous pulverising of your teeth with a toothbrush encouraged by Irish Mammies through the generations might not be the best thing.

According to the guys in the know – the Irish Dental Association – over-brushing your teeth is bad if you suffer from tooth sensitivity.

They estimate one in five Irish people suffer from sensitive teeth and the number is thought to be rising.

Tooth sensitivity may sound like the type of condition that may rule certain feeble Premier League footballers out for a few weeks, but it can be quite irritating causing pain when eating cold food, drinking a frosty pint or breathing in the air on a chilly night playing astro turf football in winter.

Sensitivity pain occurs when the enamel which protects teeth is worn away and the inner substance of the tooth becomes exposed.

While over-brushing or brushing teeth with too much force is viewed as the main cause, the condition can also be caused by eating acidic food, gum disease/recession and tooth whitening.

It usually affects folk between 20 and 40, Dublin based dentist Dr Ray McCarthy said the most common cause of tooth sensitivity is gum recession, often due to vigorous or heavy handed brushing.

“Our gums are like blankets which protect the roots of the teeth. If this protective layer is worn away the roots which are linked directly to the nerve become exposed and painful. However if patients suffering from the condition follow an effective but safe oral hygiene routine, the sensitivity can be cleared in a matter of weeks” he said.

Dr. McCarthy has advised people to avoid the pitfalls of tooth sensitivity  by following these steps:

• Set aside 2 to 3 minutes twice a day to properly brush and floss all tooth surfaces
• Reduce pressure while brushing and use a soft or medium bristled tooth brush
• Not brush their teeth for one hour after consuming acidic drinks or foodstuffs
• Use less abrasive or desensitising toothpastes, or mouth-rinses on the advice of your dentist
• Consult your dentist if symptoms persist