If you have developed tooth sensitivity—especially to hot and cold foods, you'll want to reach out to your dentist for a firm diagnosis. There are numerous causes of tooth sensitivity, such as bruxism, worn fillings, over-bleaching, gum recession/gum disease, etc. If you don't have any serious underlying dental issues, you may want to look at your toothpaste ingredients for hydrated silica. Read on to learn more.
What Is Hydrated Silica, and Why Is it Used in Dental Care?
Hydrated silica is a form of silicon dioxide that's often used in food products as an anticaking agent and in personal care products, like toothpaste, as an abrasive and/or bulking agent.
Hydrated silica can be used in the polishing agents (prophy pastes) in the dental office. After a dentist removes tartar during a cleaning, he or she typically uses a polishing agent on the patient's enamel. Because hydrated silica has a rough texture, it helps to remove surface stains from teeth.
And while hydrated silica is mainly used to improve tooth aesthetics, it can also help to remove plaque and other debris before it has the chance to build up as tartar.
How Can You Fix the Issue with Sensitivity?
As you can see, there are many benefits of hydrated silica, so it isn't inherently bad; but if you have tooth sensitivity, you may want to opt for a toothpaste that doesn't include this ingredient. For instance, many whitening toothpastes contain hydrated silica since it can help remove discoloration, so you may want to try an anti-sensitivity toothpaste or try another bleaching method, like whitening strips, that isn't abrasive. Re-mineralizing toothpaste that contains potassium, fluoride, and calcium can help to reduce sensitivity.
If you like a certain brand of toothpaste but it has hydrated silica, you may want to check its relative dentin abrasively (RDA) score. Some toothpastes contain more of this ingredient, but any toothpaste with a value under 250 is considered safe for daily usage. Also, consider the type of toothbrush you are pairing with the toothpaste. Soft-bristled toothbrushes are better for your teeth than hard-bristled ones since they don't push abrasive ingredients into porous enamel.
If the sensitivity hasn't improved with these changes, you may want to talk to your dentist about fluoride treatments and/or composite resin bonding. Most fluoride preparations can reduce sensitivity. And while composite resin bonding can be used for cosmetic improvements, it can also be used for functional improvements. Composite resin can bulk up the enamel and reduce sensitivity.
Contact your dentist today for more information about reducing tooth sensitivity.
Share23 March 2023
Do you want to do everything in your power to keep your teeth beautiful and healthy? To help you accomplish this worthwhile task, consider visiting your trusted dentist twice each year. During this time, you can get your pearly whites cleaned and examined. Besides seeing your dentist semi-annually, brush your teeth at least twice each day. Make sure to floss at least once a day too. Drink a glass of water after mealtimes. Doing so helps wash away food particles on your teeth. On this blog, I hope you will discover simple, ingenious tips to help you maintain your gorgeous smile. Enjoy!