Thursday, May 9, 2019

Tooth Decay and Sensitivity

Are you looking forward to ice cream sandwiches this summer? If not, we hope it’s not because of sensitive teeth. We at Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing want all our patients to be confident in their teeth’s structure. If you suffer from sensitivity, the likeliest cause is thin enamel.


The dentin that surrounds our dental pulp is made up of miniature tubes. When it comes into contact with something very cold or hot, it easily conducts heat to or from the nerve at the tooth’s center. Below the gum line, dentin is surrounded by cementum, which helps the tooth root adhere to the walls of the gum pocket. Enamel, a tougher substance made of calcium phosphate, forms the hard shell of the crown of the tooth and normally insulates dentin.


Although enamel is extremely hard, it dissolves when subjected to acid. There are two main sources of acid; one is excretion by oral bacteria that consume food debris, and the other is acid reflux. Regular brushing and flossing is essential to removing oral bacteria, while cutting back on acidic foods such as red meat and alcohol can reduce acid reflux. Patients may also consider sealants to further shield their enamel and extra-fluoridated toothpaste to reinforce it. Once enamel has been lost, it will have to be replaced synthetically, but it may still be possible to strengthen enamel that has lost minerals. Tooth roots, which have no enamel to begin with, may need to be protected by a gum graft if gum tissue has receded from around them.


Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Flushing, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit Fresh Meadows Dental and fill out a contact form.


 

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