Sensitive Teeth: Causes and What Your Dentist Can Do

What tooth sensitivity is

To understand tooth sensitivity, it helps to know how a tooth is built. Enamel covers the crown of each tooth, and a thin layer called cementum covers the root. Under both sits dentin, which is full of tiny tubes that lead toward the nerve. When enamel wears thin or the gum pulls back from a root, those tubes are left open.

Cold water, a sweet bite or even a breath of winter air can then move the fluid inside the tubes. The nerve reads that movement as a quick, sharp jolt. The pain usually stops within seconds once the trigger is gone. That short burst is the hallmark of ordinary tooth sensitivity.

Common causes of sensitive teeth

• Gum recession that leaves root surfaces exposed
• Enamel worn by acidic drinks, citrus, sports drinks or acid reflux
• Brushing too hard or with a hard-bristled brush
• Grinding or clenching, which can wear and crack teeth
• Tooth decay, especially at the gumline or around old fillings
• A cracked or chipped tooth
• Short-term sensitivity after whitening, a new filling or a deep cleaning
• Gum disease, where gums and bone shrink back from the roots

Teeth sensitive to cold: what's normal and what isn't

Having teeth sensitive to cold is the most common form of sensitivity. A brief twinge from ice water that fades right away is usually a sign of exposed dentin, not a dying tooth. It's still worth mentioning at your next checkup.

Some patterns point to something more serious. Pain that lingers for more than a minute after the cold is gone, pain set off by heat, throbbing that starts on its own, or pain in one tooth that keeps getting worse can mean the nerve is inflamed. That needs a dental exam sooner rather than later. Our article on throbbing tooth pain explains these signs.

What you can do at home

Mild, general sensitivity often improves with a few changes:

• Use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth twice a day. It may take two to four weeks to notice a change, and it only keeps working while you keep using it.
• Before bed, you can smear a little of that toothpaste on the sensitive spot and leave it there. Spit, but don't rinse.
• Switch to a soft brush and use gentle circles instead of scrubbing.
• Have acidic drinks with meals, use a straw for them if you like, and rinse with water afterward. Wait a while before brushing after something acidic.
• If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about a night guard.

What your dentist can do for tooth sensitivity

The first step is finding the cause. Your dentist will look for decay, cracks, leaking fillings, worn areas and gum recession, and may test the tooth with a puff of air or cold. X-rays help rule out deeper problems.

Treatment then depends on what is found. Options may include:

• A fluoride varnish or desensitizing coating painted on exposed areas in the office
• Bonding or a filling to cover a worn notch at the gumline or replace a leaking filling
• A crown for a cracked or badly worn tooth
• Gum care, and in some cases a gum graft to cover an exposed root
• A custom night guard if grinding is part of the problem
• Root canal treatment in rare cases where severe sensitivity persists and other treatments haven't helped

Sensitivity after dental treatment

It is common to have some sensitivity for a few days, and sometimes a few weeks, after whitening, a new filling or a deep cleaning. It usually fades steadily. A sensitivity toothpaste can help in the meantime.

Call your dentist if it gets worse instead of better, if it hurts every time you bite, or if it keeps you up at night.

Protecting your teeth over the long run

Daily habits matter most. Brush gently twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth, limit how often you have acidic or sugary drinks, and keep up your regular checkups. Our article on what sugar-free drinks are doing to your teeth looks at acid in more detail.

If you're in Aurora or nearby and sensitive teeth are making meals or cold drinks uncomfortable, Aurora Gateway Dental Care can help find the cause and talk you through options. Call 289-475-5497 to book.

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