Sensitive Teeth Symptoms & Causes

Sensitive Teeth

You are not alone if you experience pain when you brush or floss or if hot or cold foods hurt your teeth.

You may have a common problem called dentin hypersensitivity or sensitive teeth. This usually happens at the gum line or chewing surface of a tooth. It can occur when the gum tissue recedes around the tooth when the enamel is worn away, resulting in the dentin becoming exposed to help reduce discomfort.

Your dentist may recommend toothpaste for sensitive teeth desensitizing toothpaste containing potassium. Potassium is thought to help desensitize your teeth to hot and cold liquids or foods by decreasing the nerves’ excitability. 

Tooth sensitivity affects 1 in 7 people, especially women.
The pain usually appears in everyday situations and is more common in autumn and winter.
In healthy teeth, a layer protects the crown called enamel.

Tooth Sensitivity

Do you feel a sharp pain when you drink a hot beverage or eat something cold?
You don’t have to suffer. Let’s take a look at the causes of temperature sensitivity, as well as a few remedies.

One common cause of sensitive teeth is exposed dentin, the tissue inside your tooth.
The dentin is covered with a protective layer called enamel, so when the enamel decays, the tooth becomes vulnerable to pain.

Gum disease occurs when the gum recedes and exposes the tooth’s root. This can lead to painful sensitivity.
Brushing your teeth incorrectly may injure gums and expose tooth roots. And whitening treatments can wear down enamel and sometimes cause sensitivity.

Whatever the cause, your dentist can help. She can recommend new oral care techniques and desensitizing dental products.
And, if decay or gum disease is the culprit, she can treat the problem.

7 Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

The natural design of teeth provides insulation and protection from the sensations of hot, cold, and sweets.

Anything that weakens, cracks, or removes the enamel that insulates the nerve of your tooth can make that tooth sensitive.

Here are a few causes of tooth sensitivity.

1. Decay – A cavity is a bacterial infection that destroys tooth enamel.
   Weakened or softened enamel does not insulate the nerve as well as it should.
2. Cracked Teeth – A crack in the enamel allows sensations to reach the nerve that generally would not.
   Isolated and consistent tooth sensitivity is a common symptom of a cracked tooth.
3. Acid Erosion – Strong acids can cause a gradual thinning and loss of enamel.
   Be careful with habits such as sucking on lemons or sipping sweet drinks, and ask your dentist for tips to protect your teeth from medical conditions like severe acid reflux.
4. Teeth Clenching or Grinding – Heavy clenching or grinding forces can wear down the enamel on the biting surfaces of the teeth.
   As the enamel becomes thinner, you will have less insulation for the tooth’s nerve.
5. Improper Brushing Technique – A hard-bristled toothbrush or a very abrasive toothpaste can remove enamel or gum tissues. We recommend always brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
6. Injury or trauma – If a tooth experiences an accident or injury, the nerves inside the tooth may become inflamed and hypersensitive to some sensations.
7. Teeth whitening treatments – The chemicals in teeth whitening agents are lovely for breaking down dark pigments in the teeth.

Temporary sensitivity is a widespread side effect of teeth whitening that should go away with time.

Do you have sensitive teeth?

Speak with your dentist to learn the best methods to minimize the symptoms of your tooth sensitivity today!

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Sensitive Tooth Pain

Tooth sensitivity occurs when the tooth enamel (the outer layer of the tooth) erodes or wears down, exposing the underlying dentin and making it especially sensitive to a wide range of sensations.

As a result, the person suffering from acute tooth pain can find it difficult to eat or drink anything hot, cold or acidic, including coffee, ice cream and soda.

Worse, the pain might not respond to over-the-counter medications, leaving the sufferer in constant agony.

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What is the origin of sensitive teeth?

Under the gums, another layer that protects the tooth’s root is called the cementum.
Finally, beneath the enamel and cementum is the dentin, a less dense layer that contains microscopic tubules, tiny hollow tubes or channels.

When the dentin loses the protective covering of the enamel or cementum or the gums retract, leaving part of the root exposed, these tubules allow temperature or acidity to reach the nerves and cells within the tooth, generating tooth sensitivity.
Erosion of the enamel or cement causes dental sensitivity.

Causes of dentinal hypersensitivity Very different reasons may have caused this erosion:

The consumption of acidic drinks such as wine or carbonated water or foods that contain acids such as sour fruits, snacks with vinegar, and sweets can cause sensitivity.
It is common for some swimmers to suffer from this problem from frequent contact with chlorinated water.

Closely related to the previous point is dental caries, an infectious disease caused by bacteria in the mouth that can also damage dentin, resulting in consequences.
Some medications can cause tooth sensitivity, such as long-term aspirin or vitamin C treatments.

People with hiatal hernia with regurgitation and vomiting also suffer from sensitivity.
Brushing your teeth with excessive pressure too often or with a rigid brush can cause wear on the enamel.

Grinding your teeth at night or clenching them excessively throughout the day ends up causing significant damage to the enamel.
Any damage or fracture to the teeth can lead to tooth sensitivity.

The same thing happens with fillings in poor condition.
The inflammation of the gum tissue caused by gum disease can cause the roots to be exposed, generating sensitivity in the teeth.
An advanced stage of gum recession can expose the root with its resulting consequences.

Treatment of sensitive tooth

Although the type of treatment will depend on what is causing it.

Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block the transmission of painful sensations from the tooth surface to the nerve.
It usually requires several applications before the sensitivity is reduced.

Fluoride gel is a technique performed in the dental clinic that strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the transmission of stimuli.
The crown, filling, or inlay is used to correct a defect, caries or fractures that can also cause sensitivity.

If a loss of gum tissue causes root exposure, this gingival graft will protect the roots and reduce tooth sensitivity.
If tooth sensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other methods, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment to solve the problem.

Diets that Help Prevent Dentin Hypersensitivity

Diet is one of the leading causes of tooth sensitivity, so having a proper diet can help.

If we modify some products from our diet, we will see how dental hypersensitivity decreases.

Here are some tips that we offer. 

• Limit consumption of foods and beverages that erodes your enamel.
• Increase consumption of foods rich in oxalate, such as spinach or bananas.
• Incorporate dairy products high in calcium, such as milk or cheese, into your diet.
• Avoid extremes of very cold or scalding liquids.
• Avoid foods rich in sugar.