Do you struggle with tooth sensitivity? Some types of sensitive teeth are normal, while others are cause for alarm. By understanding the causes behind sensitive teeth, how to manage your symptoms, and when to seek out treatment with our Caulfield North dentist, you can enjoy a healthier smile in the years ahead.
Sensitive Teeth Symptoms
The type of tooth sensitivity that you’re experiencing tells you a lot about your oral health. Not all sensitive teeth symptoms are caused by the same conditions. As you monitor your tooth sensitivity, pay particular attention to which area of your mouth the pain is coming from, when the sensitivity tends to feel strongest, and how long it lasts. If you have any other symptoms, such as pain or swelling, be sure to let us know.
The most common types of tooth sensitivity symptoms to look for are those that respond to:
- Cold Temperatures—It’s fairly normal (healthy even) for teeth to be sensitive to cold foods and liquids. Especially if you’ve been using teeth whitening products. Our dental nerves are extremely sensitive, so biting into something cold or taking a quick sip of ice water could cause a jolting sensation. Usually, the front teeth are most noticeable, and the sensitivity takes several seconds to wear off.
- Hot Temperatures—Heat sensitivity is usually only noticeable if there is something wrong with the nerve of your tooth. The sensation is most noticeable when you’re sipping a hot cup of coffee, are eating something warm like mashed potatoes, or from any significantly warm food item. Unlike cold sensitivity, tooth sensitivity to hot temperatures tends to come from a specific tooth rather than several teeth at one time.
- Sweets/Sugar—Even if you consider your sugar intake to be reasonably modest, sweet drinks like soda, juice, or coffee creamer may set off your tooth. Sweet sensitivity is not normal in healthy teeth. Typically, it’s because there is an active cavity in that tooth (but not all teeth with cavities will be sensitive to sweets.)
- Pressure—Are your teeth sore when you brush your teeth? There could be areas of gum recession with exposed root surfaces, which are extremely sensitive compared to the areas of the tooth that are covered with enamel. However, pressure, tapping, or biting sensitivity is an entirely different matter. If your tooth hurts when gently tapping on it, there may be nerve damage or an abscess.
Sensitive Teeth Causes
Just as there are different types of tooth sensitivity, there are different causes behind them. Some are preventable/avoidable, while others are not.
- Brushing your teeth too hard. Yes, there is such a thing as scrubbing too hard with your toothbrush. Abrasive brushing or using stiff-bristled toothbrushes can cause thinning tooth enamel and gum recession. Both conditions can lead to an increase in tooth sensitivity, particularly along the gumlines. Always use a soft-bristled toothbrush and only apply a light amount of pressure whenever you’re brushing.
- Sugary or acidic foods. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the entire human body, but it isn’t immune to erosion or consistent acidic levels. Having a diet rich with sugars, artificial sweeteners, acidic foods—or even having acid reflux disease—will weaken your tooth enamel. Cavities and enamel erosion are inevitable.
- Teeth grinding. Bruxism is a condition where people subconsciously clench and grind their teeth. Sometimes it’s out of stress, while others, it’s because of an undiagnosed sleeping disorder. As you grind your teeth, it can cause thin layers of enamel to fracture off, thinning out your teeth and making them more susceptible to sensitivity.
- Whitening products. Teeth whitening rinses, toothpaste, and gels naturally open up the tiny pores (tubules) in your teeth, exposing the microscopic nerve endings in your tooth enamel. Over time, repeated use can make your teeth more sensitive than before, but everyone responds to these products differently. We can adjust gel concentrations or may have you use desensitising toothpaste to help counteract any hypersensitivity.
- Gum disease. Periodontal disease can make teeth sore when chewing and expose root surfaces as the tissues recede. Both of these issues can cause sensitivity on a daily basis. Gum tenderness, inflammation, and bleeding are also common.
- Cavities. Whenever areas of tooth decay form inside of your enamel, sometimes they hurt, and other times they don’t. Pain and sensitivity aren’t a good indication of how ‘bad’ a cavity is. But cavities are mainly known for causing tooth sensitivity whenever you’re eating or drinking something sweet, regardless of whether it’s natural or artificial sweeteners.
- Cracked teeth. Like cavities, deep cracks can strain the overall integrity of a tooth, especially if the crack extends into the nerve chamber or through the root. Cracked teeth often hurt the most whenever you’re taking biting pressure off of the tooth. Biting down may not hurt, but releasing that tension may trigger pain or sensitivity in a specific area of your mouth.
- Abscessed dental nerves. Like cavities, a dental abscess may or may not cause tooth sensitivity. But abscessing teeth or those with an infected nerve are usually sensitive to hot temperatures, whereas healthy teeth are not. Even though cold sensitivity is normal, heat sensitivity is typically a red flag for an abscessed or dying tooth. Abscesses also tend to create swelling and drainage along the roots of the teeth. An X-ray will usually be necessary to determine which tooth is abscessed, as sensitivity or pain may be hard to pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from.
- Previous tooth trauma. It’s possible for an injury to your mouth—like during football practice or an automobile accident—to cause dental problems years or decades later. Tooth trauma may not be visible for quite some time. But eventually, the nerve may start to die in the tooth that was injured. As it does, sensitivity and tooth discolouration are relatively normal to see.
- Large restorations in your tooth. Whenever you need to repair an extremely large cavity or crack, the new restoration—be it a filling or something similar—may rest extremely close to the nerve. Because of the thinner area of tooth structure in that space, your tooth may be hypersensitive to cold temperatures or pressure for quite some time afterwards. Typically, teeth adjust over time; if not, you may require endodontic therapy.
Treatment for Sensitive Teeth
Treatment for sensitive teeth will depend on the type of tooth sensitivity you’re experiencing. Sensitive teeth are diagnosed through a visual exam with our Caulfield North dentist and possibly a small diagnostic X-ray (to see the inside of the tooth). At that point, we can determine any structural issues or physiological factors contributing to pain in specific teeth. Early diagnosis will also help prevent additional damage to your smile!
For example, if you have an active cavity, we will need to remove the area of decay and place a restoration inside of the tooth to fill and seal it off, preventing the spread of decay.
Larger cavities that reach into the nerve of the tooth—like those causing heat sensitivity—or where a cracked tooth is involved usually require a root canal and crown. By performing a root canal, we remove the compromised, infected, or dying nerve so that it does not continue to hurt or eat away at the tooth structure from the inside.
Sensitivity related to periodontal disease or gum recession is handled differently, as it involves exposed root surfaces. These areas will need to receive soft tissue therapies like deep cleanings, grafting, bonding over the area, or something similar. Our Caulfield North dentist will discuss which solutions are most appropriate for your given situation.
Supplementing with desensitising toothpaste and/or fluoride will be extremely helpful, particularly when the sensitivity is related to erosion, gum recession, or cold temperatures. Use the products as directed, continually, for long-lasting results.
If you’re prone to teeth grinding, consider investing in a protective bite splint or nightguard to avoid any additional enamel wear.
With good oral hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular dental checkups, you can take control of your tooth sensitivity and prevent it from getting any worse.
Sensitive Teeth Pain Relief
One of the first steps toward pain relief for sensitive teeth is to look at the oral care products you’re using. Are you brushing with a whitening toothpaste? If so, shift to one that’s formulated for sensitive teeth and use it twice a day. In most cases, your tooth sensitivity will improve within weeks. Still, sensitive toothpaste is something you’ll need to continue using, so be sure to keep it on hand or alternate it with your other preferred toothpaste.
Next, if you’re using an at-home teeth whitening kit, consider wearing your bleaching trays every other day instead of daily. The brief pauses can help limit tooth sensitivity induced by the whitening ingredients.
Be sure to contact us if your symptoms persist. Professional treatments can offer fast and effective results so that you don’t have to suffer in silence. Contact Hawthorn Road Family Dental in Caulfield North today to reserve a professional evaluation.
