I’m using Sensodyne, but my teeth are still sensitive when eating; what can I do?
I’m using Sensodyne, but my teeth are still sensitive when eating; what can I do?
If you are like some of our patients with teeth sensitivity, you may wonder why using Sensodyne or other sensitivity toothpaste doesn’t seem to be helping. One important thing to remember is that sensitive toothpaste is meant to reduce but not eliminate sensitivity. However, you may feel that “it’s not doing anything,” or you want to maximize effectiveness.
In many cases, we recommend patients develop a routine where brushing their teeth is the last step in their daily oral hygiene routine. This allows toothpaste to sit on your teeth and gums for about 10 minutes before washing it off. Following the same concept as a lotion or cream with active ingredients, you would not want to apply the lotion and immediately rinse it off. Because most sensitive toothpaste contains potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride, it is best to let the toothpaste sit on your teeth and gumline for a few minutes. To do this, we typically recommend just spitting out your toothpaste but not rinsing directly afterward. If the taste or idea of this recommendation is not to your liking, you could consider waiting 10 minutes after brushing to rinse with water or a mouthwash.
In some cases, if the sensitivity toothpaste is too difficult to leave on your teeth, perhaps consider an unflavored or less minty version of the toothpaste. Alternatively, you may be able to find a mouth rinse with sensitivity relief as well. However, this would require strict adherence to allowing the active ingredients some time to work before rinsing out.
Why is it better to spit and not rinse?
Brushing your teeth with toothpaste is a crucial step in your daily routine, as it removes plaque and food debris from your mouth, which can cause tooth decay. In its most basic form, toothpaste is a gentle abrasive that works with the mechanical action of your toothbrush. However, modern toothpaste is a marvel and generally contains ingredients to help protect healthy teeth or prevent future problems, providing you with the reassurance and confidence that your dental health is in good hands.
All additional ingredients in toothpaste are more effective if you spend more time in contact with your teeth and gums. Therefore, to get the most out of your toothpaste, dentists recommend spitting out your toothpaste after brushing but not rinsing immediately after. This will maximize the time those ingredients like fluoride, sensitivity treatment, and teeth whitening have to act in your mouth.
Patience is key when it comes to toothpaste with active whitening (with hydrogen peroxide). Letting the remaining thin film of toothpaste reside after brushing will help keep your whitening active for a few more important minutes. Whitening agents take time to work, and the 2 minutes of brushing is not as effective as giving a few extra minutes without rinsing. Toothpaste that does have hydrogen peroxide (like Colgate Optic White) can have a mild taste, which patients prefer to rinse out. If that is the case, you can do a rinse after waiting about 10 minutes for all the toothpaste ingredients to do their jobs!
It is also important to note that many “whitening” toothpastes are more about stain removal and polishing and may not have any “active” whitening ingredients like hydrogen peroxide. In those cases, leaving your toothpaste without rinsing may benefit the fluoride and the sensitivity treatments. However, the whitening will not increase effectiveness since no “active” whitening agents exist.
Are there any other toothpaste products I can try?
While our primary recommendation for sensitivity is to use toothpaste like Sensodyne, some patients have had success with prescription-strength toothpaste like Clinpro 5000 or Prevident. These typically have a more potent fluoride dose than ordinary over-the-counter toothpaste. Some may also have sensitivity ingredients as well. If you feel that a prescription toothpaste might be something you need to try. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Yu to have a discussion and evaluation.
What daily routine does my Winter Park dentist recommend?
If you don’t have any unique dental conditions, the general recommendation from our Winter Park dentist is to spit out your toothpaste and not rinse afterward.
By not rinsing away the toothpaste, you let ingredients such as fluoride, potassium nitrate, and others work their magic in your mouth.
A typical twice-a-day dental care routine could look like this:
Floss between all your teeth
Rinse your mouth (with water or mouthwash)
Brush all surfaces of your teeth for a full 2 minutes
Spit (but don't rinse) out the toothpaste
Wipe your beautiful face
Smile at yourself in the mirror
This might seem trivial in your daily routine, but we think it helps patients in their long-term dental care! After all, don't you want all the benefits of your toothpaste and effort from the full 2 minutes of brushing?