Sensitive Teeth: What they Mean, Causes, and Home Remedies

What Does Tooth Sensitivity Mean?

Is eating ice cream or sipping hot coffee painful? Do brushing and flossing cause a zing? If you feel pain or tingling, then you may have sensitive teeth. At least 45 million Americans suffer from sensitive teeth; one-in-five adults suffers from sensitive teeth. Tooth sensitivity is highest between the ages of 25 and 30 years.

A layer of hard enamel protects the crowns of your teeth. A layer of cementum protects the tooth root under the gum line. Gum tissue is a protective blanket that covers the tooth roots. Underneath the hard enamel, or cementum, is the porous dentin which is made up of tiny openings called tubules or channels. Inside each tubule lies a nerve that comes from the tooth's pulp (the mass of blood vessels and nerves in the center of the tooth). When the dentin loses its protective covering and is exposed, it may cause hypersensitivity and discomfort when you drink cold liquids, eat hot foods, eat sweet or sour foods, or when you breathe through your mouth. Even brushing and flossing can be painful. 

The nerves inside the tooth get stimulated causing everything from discomfort to a sharp, sudden, shooting pain deep into the nerve endings of your teeth. Some of the causes of tooth crown disintegration include tooth decay, a cracked tooth, a chipped tooth, or a broken tooth; damaged teeth may fill with bacteria, entering the pulp and causing inflammation. Teeth sensitivity can mean significant pain and it often impacts daily activities, such as eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth. It can also lead to painful dentist office visits and procedures.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

There are many causes of tooth sensitivity, and sensitive toothpaste can help protect against painful teeth sensitivity. Identify the cause of your tooth sensitivity and ask your dental professional for advice. To determine the root for your sensitivity and whether or not sensitive toothpaste will help, see if any of the following causes apply to you.

You will notice sensitive teeth when stimuli, such as hot or cold sensations, reach the nerves inside the teeth and cause pain or tingling. Some common causes of sensitive teeth include: 

• Your toothbrush type: What type of toothbrush do you use? Most dental professionals recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush. The soft bristles prevent long-term damage to your enamel and are gentler on your gums. When combined with a sensitive toothpaste such as Crest Gum and Sensitivity, the right toothbrush can help avoid painful discomfort. Most of Crest toothpastes use an active ingredient called stannous fluoride, which is clinically proven to help protect teeth from painful sensitivity.
• Teeth Whitening: Whiter teeth can boost your self-confidence and improve your appearance, but you can have too much of a good thing. If you have sensitive teeth, be sure to use teeth-whitening products no more frequently than the manufacturer recommends. Try limiting yourself to one whitening product, and then use other oral care products for sensitive teeth so you can maintain a regular oral care routine and enjoy a brighter smile, or try whitening products designed for sensitive teeth. Crest Gum and Sensitivity Gentle Whitening Toothpaste can help maintain your whiter smile while helping to protect against sensitivity. 
• Irregular flossing: Do you floss regularly? Flossing is one of the most important components of your oral hygiene routine. Flossing can prevent plaque build-up that leads to gum disease, receding gums, sore gums and tooth sensitivity. Since 80% of sensitivity starts at the gum line, it’s important to care for your gums to ensure a healthier smile. When combined with sensitive toothpaste such as Crest Gum and Sensitivity, it can help protect your teeth and gums from painful sensitivity.
• Tooth Decay: Sensitive teeth can be an early sign of a cavity. A cavity in a tooth is another way by which nerves in the center of the tooth become exposed. Crest Pro-Health toothpastes contain stannous fluoride, which helps protect sensitive teeth from cavities. All Crest Pro-Health toothpastes are triclosan-free.
• Gum Disease: If you have gum disease, you can develop sensitive teeth if the inflamed tissue in your gums is not protecting the tooth roots. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bone that support the teeth. It can progress and destroy the bone and other tooth-supporting tissues, exposing the teeth roots. Gum recession can occur due to age. Chewing tobacco, or snuff, causes the gums to recede. A healthy mouth starts at the gum line so be sure to incorporate gum care oral care products into your routine.
• Damaged Tooth Enamel: Everyone's tooth enamel can start to wear away with age, but tooth enamel can also wear away due to factors including high exposure to acidic foods or overzealous brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush. Damaged enamel exposes the inner layer of the teeth and causes them to become more sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure.
• Brushing Too Hard: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause gum recession and root exposure over time. Tooth enamel can be worn down or abraded and the dentin exposed by brushing too hard, brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush. Tooth roots can become exposed by aggressive brushing, incorrect brushing, or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. The sensitive tooth roots can also become exposed.
• Acidic Foods: Eating acidic foods and beverages on a regular basis can cause enamel to erode, increasing the likelihood of sensitivity. regularly consuming foods and beverages with high acid content (citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, tea), or by sucking on hard candy.
• Dental Work: Believe it or not, even caring for your teeth can cause sensitivity. Sensitivity can occur after dental work, however, it is temporary and usually disappears in four to six weeks. Dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, crown placement, root planing or tooth restoration can cause temporary sensitivity that can last for four to six weeks.
• Teeth Grinding: Do you grind your teeth? Grinding your teeth can cause damage to the tooth’s outer layer (enamel) and expose the tooth’s inner layer (dentin), making it more susceptible to sensitivity and decay.

Home Remedies for Sensitive Teeth

• Crest Gum and Sensitivity Toothpaste: Clinically proven to promote healthier gums, the uniquely formulated toothpaste helps protect from sensitivity by treating it right at the source. The foamy action works at the gum line to help neutralize harmful plaque bacteria and forms a protective shield against food and drink that causes sensitivity. 
• Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Floss for Sensitive Gums: The softest Oral-B Glide floss is 2x softer vs. Glide Original and is designed to make flossing more comfortable for even the most sensitive gums.
• Oral-B Sensitive Gum Care Replacement Brush Head: Equip your electric toothbrush with a specialized brush head that combines extra soft bristles to remove plaque from hard to reach areas while still being gentle on gums.
• Crest Gum Care Mouthwash: The alcohol-free formula helps to reduce gum disease, inflammation, and bad breath germs for a healthier gum line, which can help alleviate sensitivity.

How Does Sensitive Toothpaste Work?

Sensitivity toothpastes work by either blocking the exposed dentinal tubules or by desensitizing the nerve endings in the dentinal tubules. Most sensitivity toothpastes, including the leading sensitivity brand, work by numbing the nerve inside your tooth. Crest Gum and Sensitivity works differently. It fights sensitivity at the source by treating your gum line. Additionally, it’s formulated with stannous fluoride which helps block the tubule openings to keep the external triggers such as heat and cold from ever reaching and stimulating the nerve inside the tooth. Stannous fluoride also binds to enamel to create a micro-thin shield, strengthening the tooth.

How to Whiten Sensitive Teeth

If you want whiter teeth but you have sensitive teeth, start by following a complete oral care routine. Continue to use oral health products for sensitive teeth, and gradually introduce gentle whitening products. Crest Gum and Sensitivity Gentle Whitening Toothpaste  cleans stains on the surface of teeth and protects against tooth sensitivity.

The above article is from crest.com

Dentist North Little Rock AR
Springhill Dental, PLLC
3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 285
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Telephone: (501) 955-0155

Sensitive Teeth

Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about sensitive teeth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist North Little Rock AR
Springhill Dental, PLLC
3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 285
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Telephone: (501) 955-0155

Sensitive Teeth

Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about sensitive teeth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist North Little Rock AR
Springhill Dental, PLLC
3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 285
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Telephone: (501) 955-0155

Understanding Tooth Sensitivity

Learn more about tooth sensitivity by watching this video from Colgate.com.

Understanding Tooth Sensitivity: Discover the causes, prevention and treatment of sensitivity.

The above video was found on both Colgate.com and Colgate's YouTube Channel.

Dentist North Little Rock AR
Springhill Dental, PLLC
3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 285
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Telephone: (501) 955-0155

Why are my teeth sensitive after dental work?

Well, apparently I have this weird thing about sensitive teeth and can’t quit talking about them. In my last blog, I discussed some common causes of teeth sensitivity. You can read it here. I want to continue with the discussion on tooth sensitivity and discuss the most common reasons why teeth can be sensitive after dental treatment.

Trust me, we hate it too!

I hate patients having pain after dental work. It’s so frustrating when a patient didn’t have pain with their teeth before we worked on them, but then the teeth hurt afterwards. I wish we dentists could do all of work without causing pain to our patients. Unfortunately, that just isn’t always the case. In this post I want to discuss some of the possible causes of pain after dental work

Pain after Fillings or Crowns

The first and most common cause of pain is an irritated nerve in a tooth after a deep filling or crown. Like I mentioned in my previous blog post, teeth have three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp. The pulp is an open chamber that contains nerves and blood vessels. Anytime we do work on a tooth, such as crowns, fillings, and veneers, we can irritate the nerves. When these nerves become irritated, they become hypersensitive. The usual result is the tooth hurts when you eat or drink something hot or cold. Generally the deeper the decay, the more likely the tooth is to hurt. However we can’t always 100% predict when your teeth will be sensitive after dental work. I love to use the following analogy to describe pain after dental treatment. Teeth are like cups of water. Every time work is done on a tooth, you pour water into that cup. And you can’t predict when that cup will run over and cause pain to the patient because every patient is different and ever tooth is different. I can do a large, deep filling on one person, and the tooth will never hurt. I can do a smaller filling on another person, and their tooth will hurt. I can even do several deep fillings on the same person, and maybe one tooth will hurt but the others won’t.

The next question the patient usually asks when they have pain after doing a filling or crown is when will the pain stop? If the decay was not into the pulp, then most likely it will calm down in less than a month. Usually it’s even a shorter time than that, probably less than two weeks. However, once again, every tooth is different and every person is different. Sometimes, even if we don’t enter the pulp when we are removing decay, the nerve may still become too irritated and never heal. When this occurs, unfortunately the tooth will require a root canal or have to be extracted.

Another possible cause of pain after fillings or crowns is if the restoration is too “high.” When a dentist place a filling or crown, we always try to adjust it to where your bite is the same as it was before we did the work. In other words, we want the upper and lower teeth to contact each other in the same place with the same amount of pressure as they did before we did the work. By nature most dentist are perfectionists, and we try our best to do perfect work for every patient every time. However we are also human and we don’t get it perfect every time no matter how hard we try. Sometimes the new filling or crown may not be adjusted properly and may hit harder than the other teeth. Most often the result is pain with chewing or biting down. Occasionally the tooth can have hot or cold sensitivity. If this is the problem, it is usually a simple fix of adjusting the filling or crown to lessen the pressure on the tooth when you bite.

Sensitivity After Cleanings

Another time a person may have pain or sensitivity after dental work is having hot or cold sensitivity after having their teeth cleaned. This is usually more common after deep cleanings. How can teeth be sensitive after cleanings? If you read my last blog post, you will remember that the teeth have less insulation over the roots. They also have microscopic open tubules in the dentin that radiate from the pulp. When the ends of these tubules are open on the root, the tooth is more likely to have sensitivity. In the process of cleaning your teeth along the gumline, oftentimes a very, very slight layer of the root is removed. This usually only occurs when a patient has deep cleanings done. And it’s actually a good thing we do this. The reason is because bacteria and their toxic byproducts can infiltrate into the tubules. So when the hygienist cleans the tartar and buildup off the teeth, she also has to remove that thin outer layer that contains the bacteria. Unfortunately this may leave open tubules that lead to sensitive teeth. My most common choice of treatment is sensitivity toothpaste combined with prescription fluoride toothpaste. This combination will most often clog the tubules, decreasing the sensitivity.



This is a microscopic image of the dentinal tubules with bacteria inside them.



We’re Here to Help!

Like I said previously, we dentists really do hate for our patients to have pain after dental work just as much as our patients do. And it’s like I tell my patients, if you don’t tell us you’re having a problem, we don’t know it. So if you are having pain with your teeth or mouth, please inform your dentist. We will do our very best to educate you on the causes of your pain and offer treatment to help.

You've got to be less sensitive about things!

One of the most common issues I see every day at Springhill Dental are people with sensitive teeth. These are people complaining of teeth hurting due to hot, cold, or sweet foods or drinks. I’m sure you have seen the commercials on tv for Sensodyne, Crest Sensitive, and all the other toothpaste brands trying to get you to buy their products. In this post I want to explain some of the most common causes of sensitive teeth and some ways you can reduce the sensitivity.

Let's talk tooth anatomy!

First off, what causes teeth to be sensitive. Well, let’s explain how teeth “feel” hot or cold. Let’s have a tooth anatomy lesson. A tooth has three layers:

1.       Enamel—The hard outer layer that acts to protect the dentin and pulp.

2.       Dentin—The middle layer which acts to support the enamel and as insulation over the pulp.

3.       Pulp—The inner layer which contains the nerves and blood vessels.



Cross section of a tooth showing the three layers.



When a person drinks hot or cold, this causes a change in pressure inside of the tooth. You can see this occur when a sealed plastic bottle is heated and it expands or if it is cooled and it contracts. This change in pressure inside of the tooth causes irritation to the nerve, which is transmitted as pain to the brain.

Now that we know how a change in temperature in the mouth can cause pain with a tooth, let’s talk about the possible reasons why a tooth would become more sensitive to these changes. Sometimes the reason people’s teeth or mouth is hurting is obvious. Sometimes though it takes some thought, and I have to go through a number of tests, x-rays, and lengthy exams in order to find the cause of people’s pain. I really enjoy this part of my job. I love that “Aha!” moment when I discover the culprit and find the cause of a person’s dental pain. Tooth sensitivity to temperature changes is often one of those problems that I have to play detective on to find the cause. (For the record I hate it for the patient! I don’t want anybody having dental pain and would be glad to spend every day looking at perfect mouths that don’t need any dental work.)

What's causing those teeth to hurt?

The first and most common is tooth decay. When a tooth develops a cavity, the enamel and dentin become weakened. This loss if insulation over the nerve can cause more sensitivity. How dentists treat decay is to remove all the weakened tooth structure and place a filling or cover it with a crown. If the decay goes untreated and enters into the pulp, this causes inflammation, which causes the nerve to become hypersensitive. Eventually this causes the nerve to die, causing the tooth to require a root canal or to have the tooth removed.

Another common cause of sensitivity is root sensitivity. This occurs when a person has gum recession. Recession occurs when a person loses bone and attachment around a tooth. The root of the tooth has less insulation over the pulp. It also has exposed dentin tubules. Ok, another dental anatomy lesson here. When the dentin develops, it’s actually not a solid block, but instead develops as tubes radiating out from the pulp. It’s a lot like Swiss cheese except the holes radiate from the center. The ends of the tubules are normally sealed by enamel.

This image shows the exposed tubules on the root of the tooth.
Sometimes nerve endings will radiate into the tubules.

However, there isn’t any enamel on the root, so these open tubules are exposed to heat, cold, and irritation from sugar, food, brushing, etc. There are a variety of treatments for root sensitivity. I personally like to start very conservative. This usually consists of using a combination of over-the-counter sensitivity toothpaste and prescription strength fluoride toothpaste. I have found this combination to be very successful. These two types of toothpastes will build a layer of insulation over the root, thus clogging the open tubules. If this treatment doesn’t work, my next treatment is to bond a filling over the root which seals the tubules and adds more insulation over the root. If this treatment doesn’t work, which is very rare, the tooth may need a root canal to remove the nerve from the tooth.

One other possible cause of sensitive teeth that should be mentioned is people grinding their teeth. Grinding your teeth can mildly irritate the nerve, causing them to become sensitive. Over time teeth are worn down from the grinding, thus reducing the insulation over the nerve. This also can cause sensitivity. I have even seen teeth that were worn down so bad from bruxism, the teeth abscessed and needed root canals or had to be removed. Usually teeth that are severely worn down require crowns to cover and protect the tooth. If most or all of the teeth are worn down, the patient may require full mouth reconstruction of their teeth and bite.



This poor person has a severe problem with grinding.
The only long term option is likely full mouth reconstruction or an upper denture.



There are other possible reasons that teeth can be sensitive. These include such things as cracked teeth or deep fillings and crowns. I plan on addressing both of these problems in future posts. If you have sensitive teeth, then I strongly encourage you to talk to your dentist about your problem. We dentists are here to help you with your oral health problems and want your teeth and mouth to look and feel the best it can.