TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Two of five young Indonesians suffer toothache
More than 50 percent of people suffering from sensitive teeth in Indonesia do not go to see a dentist and prefer to hold back the pain
Change Size
Young woman showing electric toothbrush (Shutterstock/Alliance)
Two of five young Indonesians experience pain at their teeth due to sensitive teeth, a periodontist said.
Yuniarti Soeroso of the Association of Indonesian Dentists in Semarang said this type of toothache was common in Indonesia.
“Sensitive teeth are a clinical disorders commonly suffered in the form of strong pain on [exposed] tooth dentin when receiving hot and cold stimulus, or sour and sweet chemical contents in foods and drinks,” she said.
She said teeth became sensitive because the dentin was opened due to attrition or loss of tooth structure as a result of friction between teeth or a habit of teeth grinding or chin closing.
Other factors causing tooth sensitivity include tooth erosion due to chemical damage on the enamel layer because of acid in food and drink or gastric acid reflux as well as abrasion due to a habit of overly strong brushing.
Yuniarti said studies revealed that sensitive teeth were often suffered by youths and people having gum recession or receiving dental treatment. She said sensitive teeth could disturb the patients’ daily activities, especially in youths.
“Ironically, more than 50 percent of them do not go to see a dentist and prefer to hold back the pain,” said Yuniarti, adding that young adults with high mobility tended to ignore the health of their teeth.
