Have you ever taken a bite of something cold, hot, sticky, sweet, or hard and felt a shocking pain radiate from your tooth? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

This sharp pain is known as dentin hypersensitivity (or sensitive teeth), and it’s estimated that roughly 50 million Americans suffer from the same pain. It can cause discomfort ranging from slightly annoying to totally debilitating, urging you to avoid your favorite foods and drinks…or even prevent you from using certain sides of your mouth.

Understandably, your next thought after “ouch” will likely be about finding oral care products that soothe your sensitivity. But the truth is, some of these products contain chemical drugs (like potassium nitrate) that temporarily numb the problem without truly soothing (or solving) it.

So if you’re one of the over 50 million Americans who suffer from tooth sensitivity, read on to see if your teeth are addicted to drugs....and explore new innovative solutions (like our proprietary Hydroxi™ formula) that truly provide relief for sensitive teeth.

what causes tooth sensitivity?

Before we dive into the dos and don’ts of sensitive oral care products, let’s explore what causes tooth sensitivity. While there are many reasons you may develop sensitive teeth, here are some of the most common ones.

• weakened enamel: when the hard outer layer of your teeth (your enamel) weakens over time, it can expose the dentin layer beneath it. Dentin contains little tubules that lead to your tooth’s center nerve. When those tubules become exposed, it is easier for hot, cold, and acidic substances to reach and aggravate the nerve....leading to pain.
• gum recession: your teeth have “roots” where they meet your gum line, and those roots are not protected by hard enamel. Instead, they’re only protected by your gums! So if your gums start to recede, those roots can become exposed, causing sensitivity on contact.

Sensitivity can also be a symptom of tooth decay, gum disease, a worn filling, a vitamin deficiency, and beyond. We highly recommend visiting your dentist to find out the root cause of your sensitivity, especially if it’s persistent.

what is potassium nitrate?

Potassium nitrate is a chemical numbing agent found in a lot of sensitive oral care products, like toothpaste and mouthwash. It “works” by blocking the pain signals between your tooth’s center nerve and your brain, offering temporary relief. In our book, there are a few problems with this approach.

• It disrupts the mind-mouth-body connection. At Davids, we like to think about oral care as part of a bigger picture. Your dental health plays a crucial role in your overall wellness, from blood sugar regulation to mental health. If you’re experiencing sensitivity, it’s a (painful) signal that some root cause needs to be addressed for the sake of your oral and overall health. Why would we want to silence that signal? Instead, we want to listen to it, uncover the root cause, and solve it for the sake of your holistic health.
• It’s a short-term solution. While a coating of potassium nitrate might desensitize your mouth in the moment, that coating eventually wears off, and you’re back to square one. This keeps you in a vicious cycle where your teeth can become “addicted” to drugs. You only feel relief in the short window after you use your potassium nitrate products, but it does not address the problems with your teeth, and we think your mouth deserves a better long-term solution.
• It’s not ideal for health-conscious consumers. Though generally considered “safe” for use in sensitive toothpastes, If you're committed to using clean natural products, potassium nitrate may not be your best option for tooth sensitivity relief. Over long term use it can be absorbed by the gums and enter the bloodstream.

On that note, let’s explore whether or not potassium nitrate is safe for daily use.

is potassium nitrate safe?

Generally speaking, yes, potassium nitrate is safe and approved by various regulatory agencies. However, research shows that it can be harmful in high amounts. Potassium nitrate is also used as a food additive, and there is some research that raises concern over potential cancer risks. Also, some people might find that too much of it can cause stomach discomfort and other pesky symptoms.

So, is potassium nitrate safe? Sure, but that doesn’t make it the best solution for pain....or your oral health! Now you might be wondering: what is the best solution for tooth sensitivity relief?

If you’re craving relief for sensitive teeth, the answer is nano-hydroxyapatite.

what is nano-hydroxyapatite?

Unlike potassium nitrate, hydroxyapatite is a substance that already exists in your body. In fact, your enamel and dentin are both mainly made up of hydroxyapatite. In other words, it’s an important mineral that keeps your teeth healthy and strong.

Nano-hydroxyapatite is hydroxyapatite of a smaller particle size (small enough to fit inside of those microscopic openings in your teeth), and you’ll find these nano-sized particles in our hydroxyapatite oral care products.

At Davids, we care deeply about making oral care products that are safe for you and the planet, so we crafted our own recipe of premium nano-hydroxyapatite blended with carefully selected naturally sourced and naturally derived ingredients of the highest quality....and we call this proprietary formula Hydroxi™!

the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth

All of the ingredients in Hydroxi™ work together to reduce your sensitivity at the source by penetrating your enamel and delivering essential minerals to your teeth. The nano-hydroxyapatite particles bind to your enamel to fill in microscopic holes, scratches, weakened areas, and other imperfections to remineralize your teeth and create a strong layer of protection over your dentin.

This “plugs” those exposed tubules that lead to the tooth’s center nerve, soothing your sensitivity at the source, rather than temporarily numbing the pain like potassium nitrate. In fact, the high-performance formulation of Hydroxi™ outshines leading hydroxyapatite toothpastes, and mainstream sensitive toothpastes that use potassium nitrate.

We sent samples of Hydroxi™ to a trusted third-party lab to see how it performs against other leading sensitive toothpaste products: Apagard Premio, Boka, Colgate Sensitive, Risewell, Sensodyne Pronamel, and Tom’s Sensitive.

All numerical and photo evidence revealed that Hydroxi™ outperforms the competition, blocking exposed tubules better than the rest. Check out the photo evidence below!

If you’re looking for real, root-cause relief for sensitive teeth, ditch the numbing drugs and add  Hydroxi™ to your daily routine.

other common mistakes to avoid when treating tooth sensitivity

ignoring early signs

Many people are quick to dismiss mild tooth sensitivity, thinking it’ll go away on its own. At first, it might feel like a slight hint of discomfort when you sip your hot coffee or bite into your ice cream cone. You might even feel a little pain when you suck in air through your teeth or feel a little ache when sugar hits your tooth. These sensations come and go, so they’re easy to ignore…until they become more frequent and intense!

What starts as occasional discomfort you can brush off can quickly progress into persistent pain. This is because your slightly sensitive tooth is already more vulnerable than a healthy tooth. This gives bacteria, acids, and other outside threats leeway to wear down your enamel even more.

By visiting your dentist during these early stages, you can identify the root cause of your sensitivity. If it’s caused by enamel wear, you can introduce a remineralizing product (like Hydroxi™) to help stop sensitivity in its tracks. If it’s caused by gum recession, your dentist might have additional ideas to treat your gums and relieve your sensitivity before it becomes unbearable.

brushing too hard

It’s tempting to think that brushing “harder” (with more pressure) keeps your teeth extra clean. But this approach can do way more harm than good…especially if you have sensitive teeth. Over brushing (or even just using a medium-to-hard bristle toothbrush) can wear down your enamel over time, leading to even more damage and sensitivity.

Not to mention, aggressive brushing can also cause gum recession, exposing those roots toward the bottom of your teeth. To protect your enamel and gums, be sure to brush in a gentle, circular motion rather than harsh back-and-forth or up-and-down movements. Also, be sure to check out our bamboo toothbrush which sports a 100% natural bamboo handle and high-performance soft bristles. The bristles are also BPA-free, derived from castor oil (versus other conventional toothbrushes made with bristles derived from petroleum oil). The unique design of our bamboo toothbrush offers a smooth and gentle mouthfeel as you brush your teeth (even in sensitive, hard-to-reach areas).

using acidic or alcohol-based mouthwash

Many people rely on big-name mouthwash products for that intense, minty-fresh feeling, thinking it’s a sign of a cleaner, healthier mouth. While we don’t recommend these products for any mouth, we especially don’t recommend them for sensitive mouths. Acidic, alcohol-based mouthwash formulas can make sensitivity much worse, as they contain harsh ingredients that can strip away your protective enamel over time.

The alcohol in these products dries out your mouth, reducing saliva production which can throw off the pH balance in your oral microbiome and give bacteria a prime environment to thrive. The acidic stabilizers in these products (like citric acid, benzoic acid, and beyond) can further harm the delicate pH in your mouth. All of these things together can lead to even more enamel erosion and sensitivity.

We recommend opting for an alcohol-free, pH-balancing mouthwash that helps to soothe sensitivity, remineralize your enamel rather than weaken it, and stimulate saliva production rather than dry out your mouth. Stay tuned for a near-future Davids product that does just that!

whitening your teeth too often with peroxide-based products

Teeth whitening is a common culprit for sensitive teeth, especially if you’re using peroxide-based products. These popular products work by lifting surface stains with harsh oxidation, releasing free radicals (unstable atoms that can cause damage). While these products effectively whiten your teeth, they can also weaken your enamel, irritate your gums, and lead to increased sensitivity and pain over time.

We recommend Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP) based products over peroxides. PAP is a gentler, more natural alternative that lifts stains without releasing harmful free radicals in the process. You can even find “PAP+” products that contain nano-hydroxyapatite, which helps to remineralize your enamel during the whitening process. This can boost whitening while protecting your teeth from sensitivity!

It’s also worth noting that our entire toothpaste lineup is formulated with gentle, nature-derived ingredients to whiten your teeth. Certain ingredients, like our premium, ultra-fine abrasives, gently “exfoliate” surface stains from your teeth without damaging your enamel, leaving your teeth feeling as good as they look!

why you should turn to Hydroxi™ for relief for sensitive teeth

By adding Hydroxi™ to your daily oral care routine, you’re taking one simple (yet highly effective) step to minimize and prevent sensitivity at the source….every single day! So whether you have intense sensitivity, mild sensitivity, or you’ve never felt sensitivity at all, you can benefit from adding Hydroxi™ to your daily routine.

In the world of oral health, prevention is your best line of defense. Instead of waiting for that shocking pain that comes with tooth sensitivity, add Hydroxi™ to your routine to prevent (or relieve) sensitivity before it becomes a glaring issue you can’t ignore. Instead of temporarily masking sensitivity with numbing drugs, Hydroxi™ allows you to rebuild your enamel daily, filling microscopic imperfections and shielding your teeth from sensitivity.

With refreshing flavors like peppermint, mild mint, and orange vanilla, our Hydroxi™ toothpaste helps you enjoy your oral care routine while nourishing your teeth with clean, science-backed ingredients. Make the switch today and experience a daily ritual that provides lasting tooth sensitivity relief—without the drugs. Your smile deserves it!

Find your flavor and start your Hydroxi™ journey today.

buy now.