Problem scenario
You had some juice or fruit that had a significant amount of citric acid. Your teeth are now sensitive when you eat or drink something that is cold, hot, or crunchy. What should you do? Are there products with different active ingredients to reduce the sensitivity in one or more of your teeth?
Possible Solution #1
There are different anti-sensitivity toothpastes where the active ingredient could be Arginine bicarbonate (Tom's of Maine toothpaste), stannous flouride (some Crest toothpastes), or potassium nitrate (Sensodyne, and some Colgate toothpastes).
Possible Solution #1
Use mouthwashes, strips serums or gels. Colgate's Gel-Kam (that uses stannous flouride) is a topical gel -- not a toothpaste.
Possible Solution #3
At least one toothpaste (Tom's of Maine toothpaste) has directions for applying the toothpaste as a serum to the sensitive tooth and letting it sit for one minute.
Possible Solution #4
You may want to ask your question on healthtap.com (for free).
Possible Solution #5
Speak to your dentist. Sometimes in-office flouride treatments can help.
Final reminders
Just because something is available over the counter does not mean it is harmless. Flouride has created problems for people. You probably should consult with a dentist before using a new topical product. There are many potential solutions out there, and sometimes you need the right dentist -- not any dentist. There does not seem to be one product that works for all people. Some products need to be "tried" daily for four to six weeks. Every individual is different in how they respond to a given product.
This article is informational and it is not an endorsement of the product. This article should not be considered medical advice. You may want to consult with a dentist before using an anti-sensitivity mouthwash, toothpaste, strip, or serum.