Editorial: Advances in understanding and managing dentine hypersensitivity and tooth wear

Indo-Trinidadians, predominantly from South-East Asia, and a Mixed population of Afro and Indo-Trinidadians. This study demonstrates increasing severity of tooth wear with age. The results suggest there may be a difference in the severity of wear noted between the dominant ethnic groups in Trinidad. Afro-Trinidadians, like African-Americans originated in the same geographical regions of Western Africa. In this Trinidadian patient population, persons of mixed ethnicity appeared to have the same protective effect as African ethnicity having higher prevalence rates of no and lower rates of mild, moderate, and severe wear compared to Indo-Trinidadians. sex, there were higher prevalence rates for males with moderate and severe tooth wear compared with mild wear. This work broadens the knowledge base on the relationship between demographic variables and tooth wear. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oralhealth/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1516137/full The diagnosis of DH needs to be accurate to rule out other conditions such as caries and cracked tooth syndrome. The article titled "Cracked tooth syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma-a mini review" provides excellent insight and summarizes the current strategies and standardized protocols in diagnosing a cracked tooth. This literature review discussed the signs and symptoms of cracked tooth syndrome and the diagnostic methods used to identify the condition accurately. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oralhealth/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1572665/full The other 3 articles featured in this research topic focus on treatment and management of DH. The article titled "Comparison of the effectiveness of diode laser, fluoride varnish, and their combination in treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials" aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish, Diode Laser (DL), and their combination in reducing DH. Dentin hypersensitivity has long been a challenging condition, with many treatment methods showing limited success. However, the emergence of laser therapy, particularly the significant potential of diode laser (DL) and sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish, has sparked new hope. This research is a significant step towards a more effective treatment for DH, aiming to evaluate the promising potential of DL in treating DH, both independently and in combination with fluoride varnish. Diode laser therapy, particularly when combined with NaF varnish, represents a promising treatment approach for DH, offering superior efficacy over NaF varnish alone. This study suggests that combination therapy may provide longer-lasting relief, with implications for improving clinical outcomes in DH management. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oralhealth/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1550127/full The article titled "Buffer Solution Reduces Acidic Toothpaste Abrasivity Measured in Standardized Tests" tested whether an acidic toothpaste is indeed more abrasive than a neutral counterpart of otherwise identical composition, and whether this increased abrasivity is prevented by a buffered solution simulating saliva. It has been speculated that the diluent used to test toothpaste abrasivity in standard tests may have an impact on their results, especially in the context of acidic toothpastes. This study showed that using deionized water as a diluent for in vitro toothpaste assessment can create a nonrealistic pH environment. With acidic toothpastes, this can lead to systematic overestimation of abrasivity. In summary, the current study showed that in the context of acidic toothpastes, the current norm recommending deionized water as the diluent in toothpaste abrasivity tests may not yield clinically reliable results, as there appears to be an erosive component that is not corrected for. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/dentalmedicine/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2020.612298/full The in-vitro study titled "Evaluating the protective effects of mouthguards with neutralizing agents against chlorinated water-induced enamel erosion" evaluated the effects of mouthguard use with or without neutralizing agents, compared to no mouthguard use, on the microhardness of dental enamel after a swimming simulation. Dental erosion is a common problem among swimmers. Mouthguards significantly reduced enamel microhardness loss compared to no mouthguard use. While no significant differences were found among mouthguard groups with or without neutralizing agents, those lined with arginine-fluoride toothpaste showed the least enamel loss, suggesting its potential protective effect. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oralhealth/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1469228/full