• 26 JUL 18
    • 0

    Why Do You Get Sensitive Teeth?

    Two models of teeth. One has a happy face painted on it and the other has a sad face painted on it because it is sensitive.

    Do you often get sensitive teeth when they come in contact with cold air or cold foods and drinks? As we head into fall and winter, more people get sensitive teeth with the changing of the seasons. However, sensitive teeth can also happen depending on the foods and drinks you are choosing, how well you take care of your teeth, and even if you use heaters. Luckily, not all the reasons for sensitive teeth lead back to tooth decay.

     

    Tooth Sensitivity: What Is Happening?

    Don’t panic if you have started to have sensitive teeth suddenly. Tooth sensitivity can be a sign of tooth decay in some patients, but that is not always the case. This is especially true if you only have sensitive teeth every once in awhile, like when you are eating ice cream. Your teeth are incredibly hard because they are made up of 96% mineral content—meaning they are basically solid-packed minerals.

     

    Despite that mineral content, you can still get sensitive teeth. Your teeth have various layers inside them, including delicate nerves. Your tooth enamel is the outer shell and is the hardest. Inside that is a slightly softer layer called the “dentin”. At the very tooth center, there are tooth nerves and blood vessels that nourish your tooth. Those delicate nerves can cause sensitive teeth if a patient has tooth decay that has grown large. Large cavities (which is tooth decay) can cause infections that push on your nerves and blood vessels, causing sensitive teeth.

     

    This is why a person will get a toothache that can cause severe pain, swelling and burning. If you have tooth sensitivity that is centralized on one specific tooth and it continually worsens, the problem is likely tooth decay. If you keep up on biannual exams and checkups, we can find cavities when they are small. That way, they never get to the point where infection and decay have spread and you get a bad toothache. However, if your problems with sensitive teeth come and go, there are other reasons for this.

     

    Girl that has sensitive teeth while she is biting into an ice cream.

    Foods and Drinks

    Do you get tooth sensitivity only when you eat certain foods and drinks? Your mind is not playing tricks on you. Studies show that around 40 million adults are estimated to have sensitive teeth when eating certain foods and drinks. The technical term for this is “dentin hypersensitivity”. This can happen if your tooth enamel is weaker, which happens over time depending on foods and drinks you are eating and how well you take care of your teeth. If you are constantly ingesting acidic or sugary foods and drinks, your enamel can slowly thin over time.

     

    When we say “acidic” foods and drinks, we mean substances that have various acids in them. Think citrus drinks, fruits, juices, carbonated beverages (even water) and similar substances. Citric acid (in citrus anything) and carbonic acid (the acid that causes carbonation to happen) are the biggest culprits of your tooth enamel thinning. If you eat or drink these things often, it’s no wonder you have sensitive teeth! Your tooth enamel layer is getting too thin, and hot and cold substances are coming in contact with your dentin. Your dentin layer has small tubes and areas that lead to your tooth root and nerves. When that enamel layer is thin, hot and cold items hit your dentin, which activates your tooth nerves.

     

    How Is Your Oral Hygiene?

    You may be avoiding acidic foods and drinks and are still experiencing sensitive teeth. What gives? The problem may actually be your oral hygiene itself. Do you brush at least twice a day as recommended by the American Dental Association? Are you seeing the dentist at least twice a year (every 6 months) for comprehensive dental exams and cleanings? Do you brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush?

     

    Brushing with a toothbrush that has hard bristles can be harsh on your tooth enamel. Even brushing too aggressively can be slowly stripping away some of your enamel. When you don’t brush as often as you should be (2+ times a day) or for 2 minutes each time like you’re supposed to, you can struggle with tooth decay. A best friend of tooth decay is also gum disease, which happens when plaque sits along your gum line and irritates your gums.

     

    The gums then recede and your tooth root starts to show, which is very sensitive to hot and cold. An exposed tooth root can definitely be the cause of tooth sensitivity if you only get it when you smile outside in cold winter air. If that is the problem, you will also get sensitive teeth from being around heaters or hot air that hits your teeth, as well as hot beverages and cold ones.

     

    Close-up view of a woman holding up a toothbrush with toothpaste on it that she is about to use.

    Better Oral Habits

    There are many problems that patients experience if they aren’t keeping up on their oral hygiene habits. In fact, this is usually one of the things we look for in order to see why a patient is struggling with tooth decay, dental emergencies and gum disease. Many people don’t realize that those few minutes spent everyday brushing and flossing their teeth are some of the most important.

     

    If you have sensitive teeth, but are avoiding all the habits we’ve mentioned, come in for a dental consultation. You could possibly be grinding your teeth at night, clenching them, or you have an underlying dental problem. As you wait for your appointment, invest in desensitizing toothpastes such as Sensodyne. When you schedule your appointment, we can see if you simply need fluoride gel to repair your tooth enamel or if you need a dental crown, inlay, or dental bonding to repair decay.

     

    Only in severe cases will you need a root canal or a gum graft, but these procedures can significantly help patients plagued by sensitive teeth. Don’t play the guessing game with your oral health! Call Evanson DDS at (720) 409-0008!

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