Have you ever wondered what exactly it was that makes sensitive toothpaste different from traditional toothpaste? What is it so much more expensive? Is it meant for a certain kind of person?
The short answer to all these questions is simple – it is meant for anyone who has sensitive teeth. This means what you really need to ask yourself is – what exactly does having sensitive teeth mean?
What is Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity is something you experience when you drink a hot or cold beverage. You can also experience when a sudden blast of air hits your mouth wrong or you chew on something sweet. This sensitivity is due to the dentin moving around inside of your teeth. In a perfect world, your dentin should be protected by a thick layer of enamel. When the enamel gets worn away, it leaves your dentin exposed which is what makes your teeth sensitive.
How Do Sensitive Toothpastes Work?
Sensitive toothpastes tend to work a few different ways to relieve the pain you are experience. It boils down to what the active ingredient is. The ingredient could be – NovaMin, Potassium Nitrate, or Strontium Acetate/Chloride.
Potassium Nitrate is the most common ingredient for sensitive toothpaste. It works by depolarizing the nerve in your tooth and stopping it from firing. Basically, this means it desensitizes your teeth so you do not feel any pain.
Strontium Acetate & Chloride, on the other hand, replace the calcium in your teeth providing some protect to the dentin that had been previously exposed due to the lack of enamel.
NovaMin is a brand name for calcium sodium phosphosilicate. It is an ingredient only found in newer Sensodyne toothpastes.
Yes, sensitivity toothpaste can sometimes be twice the price of regular toothpaste. For someone who has tooth sensitivity, the extra money is worth the relief the toothpaste will bring.