Regular rinsing with mouthwash for sensitive teeth can actually bring relief to many who suffer from tooth sensitivity. A mouthwash for sensitive teeth contains ingredients that help numb nerve endings and strengthen tooth enamel, and it can be used along with similar toothpastes or on its own. Studies indicate that mouthwashes may be as good as toothpaste at reducing sensitivity.
How Does Mouthwash For Sensitive Teeth Work?
Tooth Sensitivity
Depending on the cause, according to the American Dental Association (ADA) in the United States, using desensitising dental products as home treatments can suppress the sensitivity. Mouthwashes desensitise teeth in two major ways: by applying solutions that anaesthetise the delicate tubules in the underlying dentine area of the teeth and by coating your tooth enamel with materials that reinforce it and make it stronger. These strengthening compounds also fill in these microscopic tubules that lead into the inner tooth pulp through the dentine that lies below tooth enamel. Results don't occur overnight, however. It takes regular use to build up the anaesthetising effect and strengthen tooth enamel.
Mouthwash or Toothpaste?
It can be difficult to decide whether to use a mouthwash or a toothpaste to treat your sensitivity, but research suggests both are equally effective. In 2012, the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry in Spain published a study comparing a mouthwash and a toothpaste that contained sodium fluoride and potassium nitrate. Thirty patients were divided into two groups of fifteen: One group brushed twice a day using a toothpaste containing 5 per cent potassium nitrate, and the second group rinsed twice a day with a mouthwash containing 3 per cent potassium nitrate. The second group also used a non-fluoridated toothpaste. Tooth sensitivity was measured after two and four weeks. Both groups experienced a significant desensitising effect, and there was no difference between the two groups in terms of providing a benefit in decreasing tooth sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth, you can use a specialty mouthwash or a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, or both.
Sensitive teeth may be a sign of serious dental problems, so always mention any sensitivity to your dentist. They can check the source of your discomfort and offer in-office treatments. In the meantime, you can trust a mouthwash for sensitive teeth to provide you with relief from your current pain.