Tooth brushing, tooth wear and dentine hypersensitivity--are they associated?
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic concepts and circumstantial literature without systematic methodology.
PubMed 16167604 · doi:10.1111/j.1875-595x.2005.tb00063.x
What was done
The author reviewed literature regarding the mechanisms and associations connecting tooth brushing, tooth wear processes (abrasion, attrition, and acid erosion), and the development of dentine hypersensitivity.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative values or statistical comparisons. It notes that tooth brushing causes minimal enamel wear without acids, but circumstantial evidence implicates it in gingival recession and dentine exposure. Initiating mechanisms are based largely on extrapolations from in vitro studies suggesting dietary acid erosion and abrasive toothpastes open dentinal tubules. Clinical studies on the efficacy of desensitizing toothpastes have shown contradictory findings.
Why it matters
This review links dentine hypersensitivity fundamentally to tooth wear processes, suggesting clinicians address dietary acids and brushing behaviors rather than assuming desensitizing agents alone are sufficient.
Limits
This is a narrative review with no systematic search criteria, meta-analysis, or sample sizes reported. The underlying associations rely heavily on in vitro extrapolations and circumstantial observational data rather than direct clinical trial evidence.
Cited by
- supports Tooth enamel is too hard to be damaged or worn away by toothbrushing alone.