Tooth sensitivity is a very common dental problem that you may encounter at some point in your life. In simple words, it means pain and discomfort that occurs in your teeth when they are exposed to certain substances and temperatures. This can be caused due to hot or cold foods and can be a symptom of a dental cavity.
The dental cavity, also known as tooth decay, is damage to a tooth's surface or enamel layer. It happens when bacteria in your mouth make acid which attacks the enamel. Enamel is a hard white outer covering that provides protection to your teeth.
How Does Tooth Sensitivity Occur?
Your tooth comprises of 3 layers:
An outer hard layer is called the enamel (a protective top layer covering your teeth).
A middle layer, called the dentine, lies underneath the enamel.
The center of the tooth that contains the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue is called the pulp (the sensitive part).
Your teeth can become sensitive when the enamel wears down, exposing the dentine layer that becomes more permeable, allowing liquids and gases to pass through it more easily.
When these substances pass through the dentin to reach the dental pulp which contains nerve endings, you may experience pain, especially on drinking hot and cold liquids.
The conditions of sensitive teeth can be acute (temporary) or chronic and can affect one or many teeth at a time. The causes of sensitive teeth are various. However, this condition can easily be treated with a change in the oral hygiene regime of the individual.
The most common triggers include:
Hot foods and drinks
Cold foods and drinks
Cold air when inhaled through the mouth
Sweet foods and drinks
Acidic foods and drinks
Brushing and flossing (a cord of thin filaments used to remove food and dental plaque from between teeth) vigorously
Alcohol-based mouthwashes
Diagnosis
If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity for the first time, then a dental appointment is to be made. Your dentist will take a look at the health of your teeth and check for potential risks and problems such as loose teeth, decay, or damaged gums, as these conditions can be the cause of sensitive teeth.
Your dentist can check for all these conditions during an oral dental routine check-up and cleaning. The dentist can also touch your teeth with their instruments to check for sensitivity and a dental x-ray is also done to rule out the causes.
13 Surprising Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
From chewing on ice to using whitening treatments, a number of things can cause tooth sensitivity.
Key culprits to be aware of include:
1. Your diet. Eating acidic or hard foods can harm your teeth as the acid in these foods can erode the enamel layer from the teeth. Juices, citrus fruits, and sports drinks can contribute to tooth sensitivity.
2. Chewing ice. If you chew on ice, it’s a habit you should consider stopping, as it can crack the enamel of your teeth or grind it down over time, leading to sensitivity.
4. Tooth whitening. Sensitivity can be a temporary side effect of whitening treatment, but it can also result from using overly harsh whitening products or whitening teeth too frequently.
You can help reduce your risk for tooth sensitivity by consulting with your dentist to know more about teeth whitening procedures.
5. Tooth decay. Even a small cavity can eat away enough tooth enamel to expose the dentin layer and cause sensitivity.
6. Issues affecting your gums. Injury by a toothbrush, excessive flossing, and gum infections and diseases, can all lead to gum-related tooth sensitivity. Gums also recede with age, which can further increase sensitivity.
7. Split tooth. If you experience sensitivity when you bite down, it may either indicate a split (crack) tooth or a gum problem. Both require immediate attention.
8. Recent dental work. You may experience temporary sensitivity after you’ve had a dental procedure. This should improve within some time but let your dentist know if it persists.
9. Eating or digestive disorders. The frequent vomiting associated with bulimia nervosa leads to stomach acids wearing away at the surface of the teeth. Acid reflux can have the same effect.
Bulimia nervosa is a psychological eating disorder in which there is the fear of gaining weight and longing of staying thin. This disorder is life-threatening and there are episodes of binge eating (consuming large quantities of food in one sitting) and purging (self-induced vomiting).
10. Sinus infection (Sinusitis). A sinus infection can make your teeth hurt because of the pressure and inflammation of the sinus’s swelling. You may suspect a sinus infection if your teeth and your head hurt more when you lean over with your head down.
Your sinuses are 4 pairs of air-filled sacs located behind your forehead, nose, cheekbones, and in between your eyes that are responsible for producing mucus which is a normal, slippery, and stringy fluid in the nose. The mucus is primarily responsible for warming, moistening, and filtering the air in your nasal cavity (a large, air-filled space above and behind the nose).
If there is a blockage in the draining of mucus, your sinuses become clogged with it. This leads to inflammation and swelling of sinuses which is known as sinusitis.
11. Pregnancy. Pregnancy doesn’t directly cause tooth sensitivity but hormonal changes can affect your gums, which might lead to some discomfort or pain.
An increase in the levels of estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormones) in pregnancy causes an increase in the flow of blood to all parts of your body, including gums.
This makes the gums softer and vulnerable to inflammation and swelling, which causes pain and a feeling of sensitivity in your teeth.
12. Cold weather. Cold air flowing over your teeth can trigger a sensitive twinge. Your dentist might test your sensitivity by blowing air on your teeth.
13. Stress. If you grind your teeth when you're stressed, it can lead to a crack in your tooth, which in turn, can cause tooth sensitivity. Because this grinding, called bruxism, often occurs when you’re asleep, you might not realize you're doing it.
Teeth grinding can cause many problems, from tooth damage to headaches and hearing disorders.
With so many possible causes and symptoms of tooth sensitivity, working with your dentist to address sensitive teeth is essential, both to find the cause and create a treatment plan.
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