Tooth Sensitivity Causes
Cold water should not make you wince. Sensitivity has a cause worth identifying.
Enamel wear
Acidic drinks, reflux and abrasive brushing thin the enamel, exposing the microscopic tubules that connect to the nerve.
Exposed roots
When gums recede, root surface is uncovered. Roots are far more sensitive than crowns because they have no enamel layer.
Cracks and failing fillings
A crack that flexes under chewing or a leaking old filling causes sharp, specific pain rather than general sensitivity.
Grinding
Clenching stresses teeth and wears chewing surfaces flat, creating widespread sensitivity that is often worst in the morning.
What helps
Desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride varnish, a nightguard, or repairing the specific tooth. Sensitivity that lingers over thirty seconds deserves an exam.
Written by the team at Uptown Dentistry, led by Dr. Nicki Tajalli, DDS, in Uptown Houston. This article is general information, not a substitute for an exam.