BY CHERYL LIM

MORE people in Singapore are suffering from sensitive teeth, with dentists seeing an increase of up to 10 per cent of such cases each year.

Victims of the condition feel sudden pain in their teeth when consuming certain types of food and beverages.

The shooting pain travels to the root of the teeth. It is typically triggered by hot or cold food and drinks, or those that are too sweet or acidic, such as citrus fruits, carbonated drinks and wine, according to Dr Chung Kong Mun, president of the Society of Periodontology (Singapore).

In more serious cases, patients could even feel the pain when breathing in cold air, said Mr Issam Bachaalani, managing director of personal care-product group Colgate- Palmolive Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

At dental clinic Team GPA in Parkview Square at Bugis, one in two patients has symptoms of sensitive teeth in at least one tooth, said Dr Wilson Goh, its managing director.

And the figure is growing.

'There has been a steady trend upwards, of around 5 per cent a year,' he said.

Dr Helena Lee of Specialist Dental Group, at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, sees about 10 per cent more patients with teeth sensitivity, compared to five years ago.

The problem starts when the gums, which cover and protect the teeth, recede, exposing the dentin layer beneath them, explained Mr Bachaalani.

As there are tiny nerve endings in the dentin, any exposure to 'trigger' food and beverages would cause pain in the teeth.

The receding of the gums and the erosion of the tooth enamel happen as one ages. But the condition is also caused by other factors, including excessive or rough brushing, teethwhitening procedures and the habit of teeth grinding.

Some patients have sensitive teeth because the fillings used are highly conductive of temperature, such as metal-based crowns, said Dr Goh.

Sufferers of sensitive teeth are urged to seek treatment once symptoms appear.

He added: 'If left untreated, it will lead to...inflammation of the pulpal tissues in teeth (nerves in teeth), and the eventual loss of the teeth.'

Depending on the causes of the pain, treatment for sensitive teeth can range from such simple steps as using soft-bristled toothbrushes to applying laser- assisted fluoride onto affected areas, or wearing a prosthetic device to prevent teeth grinding.

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