what causes sensitive teeth, and how can Davids help?

While we do not market Davids as a toothpaste specifically for sensitive teeth, we’ve had a number of happy customers report back to us that Davids has worked wonders for their sensitivity.

So, we figured we’d share some helpful information surrounding tooth sensitivity:

• What causes sensitive teeth?
• How can chemical treatments such as chemotherapy+radiation therapy affect sensitivity?
• What can you do to prevent+treat sensitivity?

Of course, we’ll talk about the specific ways that Davids Natural Toothpaste can help fight sensitivity...plus a little announcement about supporting an amazing foundation!

what causes sensitive teeth?

Teeth sensitivity is a pretty (and unfortunately) common condition. You may have felt its pain a time or two when you bite down on something cold or take a sip of a hot drink...or even if you smile wide and “suck in” cool air. Whether you know the feeling or not, we can all agree it’s not pleasant.

So...what causes it?

Tooth sensitivity occurs when the underlying layer of your teeth (dentin) becomes exposed. This happens when your gum tissue recedes or your enamel deteriorates, leaving all the tiny channels in the dentin uncovered and vulnerable. These channels lead to the tooth’s nerve center, allowing any hot, cold, and sweet things to reach the nerve in your tooth and cause a unique pain.

There are so many different everyday things that can lead to tooth sensitivity, such as:

• The ingredients in some oral care products (namely, peroxide+acids)
• Recent dental procedures
• Brushing too hard
• Grinding your teeth
• Cracked teeth
• Gum disease
• Plaque buildup
• Acidic foods
• Age

It can be hard to pinpoint a single cause of tooth sensitivity since all of these things can act together (with your oral genetics) to create a perfect storm of sensitivity. The good news is, knowing all of these causes can give you some direction to treat tooth sensitivity.

Don’t worry, we’ll get into some specific tips+tricks shortly.

oral sensitivity from chemotherapy+radiation

In addition to the everyday causes of tooth sensitivity, chemotherapy+radiation can play a unique role in the onset of sensitive teeth (and other oral discomforts). One-third of patients who undergo cancer treatment experience oral complications.

Specifically, chemotherapy aims to slow+stop the growth of fast-growing cancer cells, but it can also harm healthy, fast-growing cells...including the ones in the mouth. It can also disturb the healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth (that oral microbiome we always mention) and decrease the number of white blood cells that fight infection. In addition to chemotherapy, radiation therapy of the head+neck can also directly damage oral tissue, salivary glands, and bone.

As a result, both treatments can cause oral complications including (but not limited to) mouth sores, dry mouth, tooth decay, gum disease, and overall sensitivity.

This makes it increasingly important for chemotherapy+radiation therapy patients to remain diligent about their visits to the dentist, hydration habits, oral care routine, and oral care products.

Davids role in treating sensitive teeth

Like other oral conditions, preventative care is the most effective route to treating tooth sensitivity. So, even if your teeth aren’t sensitive now (lucky you!) these general tips are still for you:

• Visit your dentist frequently (at least twice per year).
• Cancer treatment professionals suggest that chemotherapy+radiation patients see a dentist before, during, and after treatment phases.
• Brush your teeth+gums two to three times per day.
• Use soft bristle brushes and don’t brush too hard.
• Floss gently every day.
• Do your best to avoid grinding your teeth. If you do it in your sleep, consider a mouthguard.
• Do your best to stay hydrated.
• Avoid frequent encounters with very hot, spicy, acidic, and sugary foods.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco products.

To help further prevent plaque buildup, avoid harsh ingredients, and maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your mouth...Davids swoops in:

• As a natural toothpaste brand, we use mild, naturally-derived flavorings.
• Our peppermint oil can help with reducing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in your mouth...helping to protect your gums+enamel...while keeping a healthy balance of bacteria for your oral microbiome.
• Our natural flavoring ingredient, xylitol, works to slow the growth of the “bad” cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth...making it harder for them to survive.
• Davids always avoids artificial flavorings, chemicals, and harsh ingredients which can cause sensitivity.
• The high foaming action of traditional toothpastes has been known to trigger the exposed nerves for people with sensitive teeth...our mild foaming toothpastes help avoid this.
• The calcium carbonate in Davids is believed to “plug” those channels in your dentin that lead to the tooth’s nerve...further easing and protecting against pain+sensitivity.
• Our high-grade, micro-abrasive hydrated silica is smooth, creamy, and non-gritty (as opposed to the low-grade abrasives we see used in many other toothpastes on the market). This is ideal for people with sensitive teeth.

As always, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to toothpaste. As much as we strive to be the best natural toothpaste out there...everyone’s mouth is different! And we love that. The only way to truly know if Davids works for your teeth (sensitive or not) is to try brushing with Davids yourself.

a special announcement 

As a brand, it’s our mission to provide you with a mild, safe, and natural toothpaste option. Whether you have tooth sensitivity or just you wish to avoid it, we hope Davids can help you maintain a happy+healthy mouth. (We know we’ve mentioned this before, but the mouth is the window to your overall health!)

On top of our mission to create the best natural toothpaste (that actually works), we want to do our part to help the mouths that need us the most. That’s why we’ll be donating our natural toothpaste to The Stay Beautiful Foundation, an organization that curates helpful information and care packages that promote natural self-care. Their boxes are dedicated to those currently undergoing cancer treatment and all women who have been directly+indirectly affected by cancer.

No matter how big or small, we know that caring gestures like this...and brushing your teeth every day with a reliable, natural toothpaste...can go a long way.

 

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