Luis Manzano is one of the nine out of ten Filipinos that suffer from sensitive teeth or pangingilo ng ngipin.
But his case, he said, is simply "grabe."
Luis recalls, “Before when I learned I have sensitive teeth, kahit sa aircon lang ng kotse, seryoso yun, huminga ka lang ng mali 'tapos pumasok na yung ng cold air, mararamdaman mo yun, may sharp pain talaga."
What caused it?
Aside from possibly eating acidic foods, being a tooth-grinder, having gum problems, excessive plague, and cracked tooth, the Kapamilya host/actor says, “E ako I’am a tea drinker, and I used to be a very hard brusher, siguro yung enamel medyo numipis ng onti plus the tea that I’ve been drinking.
"So, I realize medyo nagkaproblema nung pagkainom, I am sure lahat tayo naranasan 'yan, pag-kainom may pak, aray.
"Nangingilo pa yung ngipin mo kasi may sakit, 'di ba..."
His solution is Sensodyne, the toothpaste he's been endorsing.
Did you know that mouthwash, according to EverydayHealth.com, contains alcohol and chemicals that can make teeth more sensitive?
Hence, it is advisable to "try neutral fluoride rinses."
And GlaxoSmithKline recently launched its Sensodyne Mouthwash to complement its toothpaste.
Luis says we should not let pangingilo ng ngipin get in the way of enjoying life.
“I know first-hand that pangingilo can suddenly strike anytime like when I am socializing with the press over dinner or while enjoying a much-planned family gathering after a busy schedule at work.
“Sometimes, we have a habit of suffering in silence, and I have done that, endured the pain, and I didn’t do anything.
"But I realized that the solution is just within reach.
"I also realized that if my problem with sensitive teeth persisted, I will definitely miss more great little moments in my life. I could not just allow pangingilo to define the way I live my life. I needed to take action.”
Upon knowing that he has sensitive teeth, he avoided drinking tea, coffee, and sweets.
“Tea, I am a tea drinker pero iniiwasan ko na 'yan and coffee.
"And grabe ako sa ice cream, so I had to back off ice cream and it’s hard.
"Finally nung nakita ko na there was progress, in terms of me not having sensitive teeth, that’s when I got back to my regular diet na puwede na ako mag-cheat kapag gusto ko ng ice cream.
“Wala nang isip-isip, go for a scoop or two. More of chocolates, more of chocolates talaga."
Aside from using a fluoride toothpaste that can help block pain, Mayoclinic.org suggested other remedies:
(1) Brushing twice a daily
(2) Using soft-bristed toothbrush
(3) Flossing gently and regularly
(4) Not brushing teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic substances, which softens enamel and makes it more vulnerable to erosion during brushing.
