Carmel Dental Clinic
Patient guide
Sensitive teeth: causes, relief and when to see a dentist
A sharp twinge from cold water or ice cream is one of the most common things people mention at a check-up. Usually it is exposed dentine and very manageable. Sometimes it is the first sign of something that needs treating. The pattern of the pain tells the two apart.
General information from Carmel Dental Clinic, last reviewed . Not a diagnosis.
What is actually happening
Under the hard enamel on the outside of a tooth is dentine, which is full of tiny channels leading towards the nerve. When enamel wears thin, or the gum pulls back from the root, those channels are exposed. Cold, heat, sweetness or even a breath of cold air then reaches the nerve as a short, sharp pain.
Common causes
- Brushing too hard or with a hard-bristled brush, wearing away enamel and gum.
- Gums receding with age or gum disease, exposing the root.
- Acid wear from frequent fizzy drinks, citrus or acid reflux.
- Grinding or clenching, which wears and cracks enamel.
- A recent cleaning, filling or whitening - usually temporary.
- Decay, a cracked tooth or a leaking old filling.
What helps at home
- A toothpaste for sensitive teeth, used twice a day. It can take a few weeks of regular use to work fully.
- After brushing, spit out the toothpaste but do not rinse, so it stays on the teeth.
- A soft-bristled brush, used gently.
- Fewer acidic drinks, and waiting at least half an hour after one before brushing.
- Drinking cold drinks through a straw if they set it off.
Pain that lingers after the cold has gone, pain that wakes you, pain on biting, or sensitivity in one tooth that is getting worse. These point to a problem inside the tooth rather than exposed dentine, and they rarely settle on their own.
What a dentist can do
Once the cause is known, the options include a desensitising varnish painted onto exposed areas, a filling to cover a worn or exposed root surface, treatment for gum disease, a night guard for grinding, and treatment of any decay or crack. If the nerve itself is inflamed beyond recovery, a root canal treatment removes the source of the pain.
Questions we are actually asked
Is sensitivity after whitening normal?
Yes. It is common and usually settles within a day or two, and a toothpaste for sensitive teeth helps. If it lasts longer than a few days, let the clinic know.
Can sensitive toothpaste hide a real problem?
It can dull the warning. That is why sensitivity in one tooth that keeps getting worse, or pain that lingers, should be examined rather than managed with toothpaste alone.
Does sensitivity mean my enamel is gone for good?
Enamel that has worn away does not grow back, but further wear can be slowed or stopped and exposed areas protected. Most sensitivity can be brought under control.
Twinges that will not settle?
Book a check-up. Working out which kind of sensitivity it is does not take long.
This page describes a dental procedure in general terms. It is not a diagnosis and not a treatment plan, and outcomes vary from person to person. What is right for you is decided after a clinical examination at the clinic. See our terms and medical disclaimer.