Have you ever felt a sudden jolt of pain in your teeth while biting into an ice cream? Or maybe you’ve been drinking a hot coffee and noticed your teeth feel really sensitive. Tooth sensitivity is very common, but that doesn’t minimise how annoying it can be.

In this blog, we examine the causes of tooth sensitivity and what you can do to minimise it.

Why is My Tooth Sensitive?

Tooth sensitivity stems from a number of different causes and can be either temporary or long-lasting. Below are some of the most common reasons why teeth may be overly sensitive.

Tooth Sensitivity After Filling

The process of installing a filling can lead to heightened sensitivity due to:

1. Nerve inflammation: Before installing the filling, your dentist must remove any decay from the cavity within the tooth. This can irritate the nerve, particularly if the cavity is deep. You may also experience referred pain in the surrounding teeth. Sensitivity will usually recede after a few days or sometimes a few weeks.

2. Pulpitis or pulp disease: If the cavity is very deep, the tooth pulp may become inflamed by the heat generated during the cleaning process, which usually involves a medical drill. Pulpitis will often resolve on its own, but in some cases, the infection may require antibiotics to clear. In very serious cases, root canal treatment may be necessary.

3. Misaligned bite: Sometimes, a filling will slightly change your tooth’s shape. For example, it may become marginally taller than the surrounding teeth. As a result, the filled tooth will be under more pressure when you bite, chew or close your mouth. If this causes discomfort, your dentist can smooth down the filling as part of your treatment.

4. Mix of different tooth surfaces: If you have multiple crowns or fillings made of different materials, such as gold or silver, you may experience a strange sensation when the two materials come into contact. If so, you may need to have one of your fillings replaced.

5. Allergy to filling materials: Although it is very rare, an allergic reaction to the materials in your filling can happen. Signs to look out for include tooth sensitivity combined with a rash or an itch. In this situation, your dentist can replace the filling with an alternative material.

Cold-Sensitive Tooth

Generally speaking, cold-sensitivity (and, less commonly, heat-sensitivity) is caused by exposed dentine. The dentine in our teeth contains microscopic tubes that connect to the nerve and can be irritated by certain stimuli, including high or low temperatures. Dentine becomes exposed when the tooth’s enamel is damaged and/or the gums recede.

Common causes of dentine exposure include:

Aggressive brushing technique: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristle toothbrush can erode your tooth’s protective enamel. Harder brushing does not equate to cleaner teeth. In fact, your teeth will become more yellow the harder you brush because the dentine underneath the enamel is yellow.

Sugary and acidic diet: Juices, fizzy drinks, alcohol, and citrus fruits can all erode your enamel and gumline, exposing the dentine.

Medical conditions: Acid reflux, bulimia, and other medical conditions that cause acid from the stomach to rise into the mouth can also lead to erosion. Similarly, asthmatics who don’t use a spacer for their inhaler risk leaving too much medicine on their teeth, which can also cause erosion.

Teeth grinding: Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding wears down the enamel where the teeth meet. It can happen when we’re awake or asleep and is often caused by stress.

Teeth whitening: You should consult with your dentist before whitening your teeth. If you apply the treatment incorrectly, you may damage the tooth enamel. Further, some teeth are not suited to this procedure, even if carried out in an appropriate clinical setting.

Cracked Tooth, Dental Decay, Broken or Lost Fillings

All these things can cause the pulp in your tooth to become inflamed, irritating the nerves inside. In these circumstances, you should consult with your dentist about appropriate treatments.

How to Alleviate Tooth Sensitivity

There are a few simple changes you can make to your routine to reduce the severity of dentate sensitivity, including:

• Adopting a gentle brushing technique, brushing with a soft or medium-bristle toothbrush, and using sensitive, non-abrasive toothpastes.
• Reducing your intake of dietary acids and avoiding brushing your teeth within 30 minutes of consuming them; by waiting, your saliva can re-strengthen the tooth.
• Using a dental splint if you grind your teeth at night.

If you can’t identify the cause of your dentate sensitivity, your dentist can help you diagnose the problem during your dental checkup. They can also assist you with applying fluoride gel to promote enamel strength, tooth sealants, and periodontal therapy in the case of gum recession.

Overcoming Tooth Sensitivity

Has your tooth sensitivity become a source of ongoing annoyance?

We’re here to help! We’ll help you identify the cause of your sensitivity and provide practical solutions to help reduce your discomfort.

Book a consultation with our expert team today.