A recently released toothpaste by Arm & Hammer promises to end the pain of sensitive teeth. By rebuilding tooth enamel, the toothpaste could have and immediate affect on dentistry in first Great Britian and then in the US.

Sufferers of sensitive teeth have always been able to buy products to mask or dull the pain but now there is new hope that a product could actually reverse some of the problems causing sensitive teeth.

Arm & Hammer’s Enamel Care Sensitive claims to contain a liquid form of calcium, the key component in tooth enamel. The premise is that the calcium in the toothpaste rebuilds the teeth by plugging microscopic gaps in the enamel. This in turn stops dental nerves from becoming exposed and thereby preventing pain.

Arm & Hammer is hoping to capture some of the huge dollars spent on treatments by patients who are unable to drink a cup of tea or eat an ice cream cone with wincing in pain.

Dentist Graham Barnby, who tested the treatment at his clinics in the south of England, said: “This is a unique product. Patients with sensitive teeth who have used the paste have experienced dramatic improvements in just two weeks. The liquid calcium is the key. It uses the minerals naturally present in teeth to help the body mend itself, coating the teeth in a natural substance similar to enamel.”

He goes on, “Current toothpastes aimed at people with sensitive teeth simply mask the pain – this one solves the problem.”

Sensitive teeth is a growing problem as we age and our teeth become more sensitive due to gum recession or erosion of the enamel by extra years of acidic food and drink compared to our ancestors.

Dr Barnby added: “We are living much longer and more people are reaching 60, 70 and 80 with their teeth – but many of them are left suffering pain from sensitivity. This calcium-based toothpaste could offer them some much needed relief.”

A spokesman for Arm & Hammer said: “This is a totally natural way to protect teeth. The toothpaste has eight times the amount of calcium in saliva, it coats the teeth and encourages the enamel to recover.”

Gordon Watkins, a member of the British Dental Association’s science committee, greeted the new product cautiously yet hopeful and said complete scientific trials were necessary to see if it is as effective as claimed.

Mr Watkins went on: “Sensitive teeth are a significant problem for many people. This new toothpaste from Arm and Hammer claims to treat this problem with new technology. The British Dental Association will be interested to see the results of properly constructed clinical trials that demonstrate the claimed benefits for this product together with the long-term outcomes.”