I have sensitive teeth and i'm using 'Colgate sensitive whitening' to stop this please read on?

Question

However, it doesnt seem to be working. Is this perhaps because i'm using a mouthwash after brushing? Would I be better not doing this and leaving the toothpaste to work on my teeth?

Answer 1

Rather than blaming the toothpaste. you should look at what you have been drinking.  Sensitive teeth are caused by drinking drinks that contain acid.  The acid erodes the enamel of your teeth away which means that the dentin underneath which contains the nerves becomes more and more exposed. You will notice this if your teeth are becoming see-through or you can actually see the yellow colored dentin underneath the enamel.  You can make enamel-erosion worse if you drink an acid-containing drink and then brush your teeth straight after as the acid will have softened your teeth.

The main acid-containing drinks are :  

*Fruit juices -  like orange juice,  

*fizzy drinks - like coca cola.  

--You should stop drinking these straight away and just drink water.  Or at least cut down to the bare minimum.  Fruits aren't as healthy as they are made out to be and are only good in moderation.  An orange for example is only high in vitamin C.  You are far better eating vegetables.  It is also better to eat the whole fruit rather than the juice because the acid are encapsulated in the cell walls of the fruit and so don't damage your teeth as much.  Either way, always swill some water in your mouth after so that the acid is gotten rid of and doesn't just lie on your teeth.

---Leave at least an hour of not eating or drinking anything before you brush your teeth at night.  

----As far as technique goes:

Use a pea size amount of toothpaste

Wet the brush and just brush in a circular motion for about 2-3 minutes, occasionally re-wetting the brush and spitting out the paste

make sure you clean every tooth - especially the back ones that are hard to reach.  Do not brush hard!  You only need to apply a little pressure when brushing.  If you brush hard then you could strip the enamel off.  

---Mouthwash and toothpaste contain the same ingredients and are best used at different times.  I would just brush at night and then swill with mouthwash in the morning.  As you can imagine, brushing your teeth after drinking a morning orange-juice is going to do more harm than good.

Answer 2

Sensodyne is the "gold standard" toothpaste for sensitive teeth.  I tell patients not to bother with the other brands and just go for the #1 toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

I find that it takes at least a few months of use before Sensodyne blocks that sensitivity due to gum recession.

Answer 3

It would probably help to not use the rinse until 20-30 minutes after you brush, much like with fluoride rinses.  I have sensitive teeth and have found only Sensodyne works - Colgate and Aqua Fresh sensitive toothpastes did not seem to work as well.

Answer 4

Try Crest "Pro-Health" Nighttime (even during the day) it seems to be more powerful.