Tooth ache is one of the most difficult to bear. Many people suffer from tooth sensitivity or pain which can be hard to cure. Many treatments have turned out to be ineffective and also causing cavities or bacteria contamination to patients.
Tooth sensitivity is a big issue to deal with
Those who have to go through life suffering from tooth sensitivity are always afraid when drinking something. Too hot or too cold liquids cause them excruciating pain and an unpleasant sensation. Over 25 % of Americans have reported tooth sensitivity or tooth ache problems. Tooth sensitivity occurs when the protective enamel layer from the tooth’s surface gets eroded. Without the protective layer, the next layer made out of bony tissues (dentin) is the first one to get into contact with foods and liquids. The dentin layer contains empty tubes. If the ends of the tubes are open, hot or cold liquids reach the teeth’s nerves causing severe pain. The explosion of the microtubes also causes infections as the nerve gets into contact with bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans.
Conventional treatments have not proved very efficient so far, but researchers are still looking for more solutions.
Green Tea helps with teeth sensitivity
According to a new study published in the ACS Applied Materials & Interface journal, green tea compound, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECGC) can defeat Streptococcus mutans bacterium. The team of experts created a new biomaterial using the ECGC compound found naturally in green tea so as to prevent S.mutans infections. The mixed concoction is called mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). The technique used by the scientists was confocal laser scanning microsopy, Using this technique, cientits tested MSN’s ability of blocking the biofilm formation that S.mutans creates on the dentin’s surface. Other tests were performed such as biological assays and cytotoxicity tests.
