Does ice cream or a sip of hot coffee sometimes hurt? Do you wince now and then when you brush or floss? You may have sensitive teeth.
Possible causes include:
- tooth decay (cavities)
- cracked or broken teeth
- worn fillings
- gum disease
- worn tooth enamel
- an exposed tooth root
Why it happens
In a healthy tooth, enamel protects the crown, the part above the gum line. Below the gum line, a layer called cementum protects the root. Under both is dentin.
Dentin is less dense than enamel and cementum, and it is full of microscopic tubes. When dentin loses its cover of enamel or cementum, these tubes let heat, cold, and acidic or sticky foods reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth. Receding gums can expose dentin too. The result can be sensitivity.
How we treat it
Sensitive teeth can be treated. The treatment depends on the cause. We may suggest:
- Desensitising toothpaste. It contains compounds that help block sensation travelling from the tooth surface to the nerve. It usually takes several applications before the sensitivity eases.
- Fluoride gel, applied at the clinic. It strengthens the enamel and reduces how much sensation gets through.
- A crown, an inlay or bonding, to fix a flaw or decay that causes the sensitivity.
- A gum graft. If the root has lost its gum tissue, a graft protects the root and reduces sensitivity.
- Root canal treatment, if the sensitivity is severe, won’t go away and nothing else works.
Good daily brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent sensitive teeth. If you have questions about your routine, or your teeth are sensitive, book a visit.