What Causes Sensitive
Teeth, and What You Can
Do About It
B LOG | S UNR I S E D EN T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Are you passing on hot or cold drinks
because they make your teeth hurt?
It may be time to visit your dentist
about the possibility of having
sensitive teeth. This pain or
discomfort may be temporary, or a
chronic problem, and it can affect one
or more teeth.
To be able to treat these teeth twinges,
it helps to know what causes them,
but in most cases, they can be easily
treated with a change in your oral
hygiene practices.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
The inside of your tooth is made up of
dentin, which contains tiny tubules
filled with nerve endings. It extends
down to the root and is protected by a
layer of cementum.
The nerve endings will be exposed to
different stimuli, such as hot, cold,
acidic, and sticky ingredients.
Others naturally have more sensitive
teeth than others because of thinner
enamel. The enamel may break down
due to:
Use of a hard toothbrush and
brushing aggressively
Teeth grinding
Regular exposure to acidic
foods and beverages
Sometimes, certain medical conditions
can cause sensitive teeth, too:
Gastroesophageal Reflux
(G.E.R.D.) can cause acid to come
up from the stomach and
esophagus, wearing down teeth
over time.
Frequent vomiting in cases of
bulimia and gastroparesis can
also cause acid to break down the
enamel.
Gum recession will leave parts of your
tooth exposed, also causing pain and
discomfort.
Tooth decay, chipped teeth, and
damaged fillings or crowns will also
expose the dentin of your tooth. This
often causes sensitivity on just one
tooth or region in the mouth instead
of the majority.
Some dental procedures like teeth
fillings, dental crowns, and bleaching
may also cause sensitive teeth, but it is
only temporary. The symptoms will
naturally go away after a few days.
How Do You Diagnose Sensitive
Teeth?
If this is your first time experiencing
sensitive teeth, see your dentist
immediately.
A preliminary assessment will be
done to check the overall h