64% of Singaporeans suffer from sensitive teeth: Study

64% of Singaporeans suffer from sensitive teeth: Study

SINGAPORE: Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of adults in Singapore complain that they have sensitive teeth, revealed recent research findings from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare.

The survey also found that up to one in three people in Southeast Asia may be suffering from the chronic oral condition dentine hypersensitivity (DH), a condition where short, sharp pain in teeth is experienced when consuming foods and drinks that are cold, hot, or sweet.

According to the findings, such conditions have adverse effects on their daily lives, as a quarter of the 800 global participaints in the Dentine Hypersensitivity Questionnaire (DHEQ) reported experiencing DH sensations several times a day.

They are found to have different symptoms and often do not inform their dentists of the pain, making it difficult for the condition to be diagnosed and treated.

The research also revealed that these people may even adopt habits such as not brushing the affected teeth or avoiding dental appointments so as not to trigger the pain.

Meanwhile, those who tried using anti-hypersensitivity products for eight weeks reported a significant improvement on their condition.

About half (53 per cent) of those in Singapore managed to treat their condition effectively using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth such as Sensodyne.

They said that they regained their enjoyment in eating and drinking and felt that their DH symptoms interfered less with their daily lives.

Of these findings, director of medical affairs at GSK Consumer Healthcare Dr Charlie Parkinson said: "The results highlight some surprising findings regarding the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.

"It is clear that the condition is having a significant impact on the lives of sufferers, yet is not being effectively treated. We hope the findings from this research can improve management of DH and reduce the impact of the condition on people's daily lives."

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