What is Tooth Sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity (dentin hypersensitivity) is a common condition, affecting approximately 40% of adults. It occurs when the outer enamel layer or gum tissue is damaged, leading to exposure of the underlying dentin layer. The dentin contains tiny tubules that stimulate nerves, resulting in sudden, sharp pain. For instance, sensitive teeth causes include cavities (tooth decay), tooth cracks, gum recession (loss of gum tissue), broken dental restorations, teeth grinding, enamel erosion (loss of tooth enamel), aggressive toothbrushing, whitening overuse, recent dental work, and aging. The main tooth pain triggers include cold, hot, sweet, acidic, and air stimuli.

Types of Tooth Sensitivity

There are several types of tooth sensitivity, often categorized based on the nature, intensity, and duration of the stimuli. Here’s more details on the main types of tooth sensitivity:

• Thermal (Cold/Hot): Thermal sensitivity is the most common type, and is typically triggered by cold air, or hot or cold foods and beverages.

• Tactile (Touch/Brushing): Sensitivity may result from directly touching the gums. For instance, brushing, flossing, chewing, or using dental instruments may trigger tooth sensitivity.

• Chemical (Sweet/Acid): Chemical sensitivity may result from exposure to sugary or acidic foods and beverages (i.e., sodas, coffee, energy drinks, citrus fruits, pickles, candy, desserts). Sugary and acidic foods promote bacterial accumulation, increasing the risk of dentin tubule exposure from tooth decay, enamel erosion, gum recession, and other oral issues.

• Spontaneous (No Trigger): In some cases, tooth sensitivity can occur without being stimulated by external triggers. Spontaneous tooth sensitivity may be a sign of serious tooth nerve damage or infection.

• Reversible (Treatable): Mild tooth damage or gum recession may result in reversible tooth sensitivity, which tends to completely resolve shortly after stimuli are removed or minor treatments are performed. Tooth sensitivity is usually sharp and short-lasting.

• Irreversible (Structural Damage): When dental pulp becomes severely inflamed/infected due to issues like extensive tooth structural damage, irreversible tooth sensitivity may occur. Individuals often experience a throbbing pain that lingers even after contributory stimuli are removed. Treatment is necessary to alleviate symptoms and maintain the health of the tooth.

• Primary (Lingering Pain): This type of tooth sensitivity is typically caused by severe inflammation/infection of the dental pulp, a condition known as irreversible pulpitis. Tooth sensitivity typically lingers even after stimuli are removed and requires treatment to eliminate the infection.

• Secondary (New Exposure): Secondary tooth sensitivity is commonly a result of newly exposed dentin, often from mild gum recession or enamel wear. This type of tooth sensitivity is often sharp and quickly resolves once the stimuli are removed.

Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

There are many possible causes of tooth sensitivity, some of which are preventable, while others can be hard to avoid. Common causes of tooth sensitivity include:

• Enamel Erosion: Enamel thinning can lead to the exposure of the underlying dentin layer, which contains tiny tubules that connect to the tooth’s nerves. Enamel erosion is primarily caused by acids from the diet or stomach acids.

• Gum Recession: Gums may erode and begin to pull away from the tooth due to issues like gum disease or natural aging. This leads to the exposure of tooth roots, which are more sensitive than tooth enamel.

• Tooth Grinding: Tooth grinding sensitivity may occur over time as tooth enamel wears down. Teeth grinding is common during sleep and typically requires treatment with a professional custom-made mouth guard to protect teeth from damage and sensitivity.

• Acidic Diet: Enamel erosion often occurs from consuming acidic foods or beverages like carbonated drinks, wine, citrus fruits and juices, vinegar-based items, and starchy foods.

• Aggressive Brushing: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can lead to worn tooth enamel, gum recession, and other dental issues that trigger tooth sensitivity.

• Whitening Overuse: Using whitening products unsupervised by a dentist or improper use can cause tooth sensitivity. This can also lead to gum damage, uneven results, tooth damage, and other serious health consequences.

• Recent Dental Work: Teeth may become temporarily sensitive immediately following dental treatments like fillings, crowns, and teeth whitening. Sensitivity commonly lasts from a few days to two weeks, but should not progressively worsen.

• Decay/Tooth Cracks: Issues like poor oral hygiene, dental trauma, and dry mouth can lead to tooth decay or fractures that allow bacteria into the tooth, causing infection and tooth sensitivity.

• Aging: Tooth enamel naturally becomes thinner with increasing age, which increases the risk of tooth sensitivity.

Common Tooth Sensitivity Triggers & Prevention Strategies

How to Diagnose Tooth Sensitivity?

A comprehensive examination is needed for diagnosing tooth sensitivity. A thorough patient history, including your symptoms, any medical conditions, medications, and dental history, will be discussed. The dental exam for sensitive teeth also typically involves dental X-rays to help diagnose underlying causes like tooth infection and cracks. Sensitivity testing will also be performed to determine the health of the tooth’s dental pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves. Common tests include applying a hot or cold substance to the tooth, percussion tests involving gentle taps to the tooth with special metal instruments, electric pulp tests using a gentle electrical current, and bite tests to help identify affected teeth and possible tooth cracks.

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment Options at Gentle Dental

Gentle Dental has numerous tooth sensitivity solutions under one roof. Our team of dental specialists will develop a personalized treatment plan and preventive care plans for tooth sensitivity, including at-home sensitive teeth remedies and state-of-the-art in-office procedures.

Key treatments at Gentle Dental include:

• Desensitizing agents (fluoride varnish): Professional fluoride application, often applied in the form of a foam or gel, is a popular tooth sensitivity treatment. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, reduce sensitivity, and strengthen tooth enamel.

• Dental bonding/fillings for decay: Tooth-colored composite resin can be directly bonded to exposed tooth roots to help reduce sensitivity. Patients with sensitivity caused by minor dental decay may also use this material to seal the tooth from further damage and eliminate sensitivity after the decay is removed.

• Dental sealants: Sealants are a protective layer that can be applied to the enamel or root surface to block nerve stimulation.

• Gum grafts: Gum grafting is a surgical procedure that can help reduce sensitivity caused by gum recession by adding gum tissue to exposed tooth roots.

• Night guards: Custom-made night guards may be fabricated by your dentist to protect teeth from enamel wear from dental issues like teeth grinding and clenching.

• Root canal (severe cases): If nerve damage or infection is suspected, root canal therapy may be recommended to eliminate sensitivity and infection.

• Laser therapy: Laser dentistry is a non-invasive treatment that uses advanced laser technology to seal the tubules within dentin, which in turn helps prevent nerve stimulation.

• Prescription pastes and rinses: Prescription strength fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses may be recommended for patients with high risk for dental decay and tooth sensitivity. Over-the-counter desensitizing toothpastes may also be recommended to temporarily reduce symptoms.

Preventing Tooth Sensitivity: Home Remedies and Long-term Care

Preventing tooth sensitivity requires maintaining professional dental visits and excellent at-home oral hygiene habits. Your dentist will monitor for issues and provide necessary treatments before progressing to keep your teeth healthy and sensitive-free. You will also receive personalized oral hygiene tips during your appointments to help you manage your oral health at home. Daily sensitive teeth home remedies can also help reduce sensitivity, including brushing with desensitizing toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush, rinsing with warm salt water to help reduce inflammation and soothe gums, using a nightguard for teeth grinding habits, and staying hydrated with water to help neutralize harmful acids. Do your best to limit acidic foods and beverages and be cautious when consuming very hot or very cold items. When exposed to acidic items, use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth. If interested in treatments like teeth whitening, speak with your dentist for professional guidance and recommendations before trying any over-the-counter products.

Why Choose Gentle Dental for Your Tooth Sensitivity Treatment?

Professional tooth sensitivity relief can be conveniently found at Gentle Dental. Our offices provide a patient-focused experience, emphasizing comprehensive and multi-specialty care to address the root causes of tooth sensitivity. At Gentle Dental, our experienced sensitivity specialists provide a range of options, including same-day relief treatments, advanced laser and desensitizer technology, customized night guards, cosmetic bonding expertise, fluoride applications, and preventive counseling. Gentle Dental sensitivity treatment is personalized to each patient and designed to minimize discomfort. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!