Sensitive teeth: Causes, symptoms & care for pain-sensitive teeth

Common causes for sensitive teeth

A sensitive tooth reacts to cold and other external influences more strongly. It is usually indicated by a lightning-like pain, which moves into the jaw area. Sensitive teeth can have different causes, and with between 11% and 33% of people¹ affected, it's important to know the cause of your sensitive teeth:

• Gum recession. Caused most commonly by gum disease but also overly aggressive brushing and even genetics,² gum recession is not something to be taken lightly or ignored. When the gums have receded and the tooth necks are exposed, stimuli such as temperature fluctuations are more easily registered by the ‘nerve’ (pulpal). This is especially common if the protective enamel is also damaged.
• Tooth erosion. While minor tooth wear is something that naturally happens over time,³ the wearing down of the surface of your tooth especially through excessive brushing or poor diet can increase the likelihood of tooth sensitivity. The reduction of enamel leading to tooth neck exposure to damage resulting in cavities and tooth erosion is a major cause of sensitive teeth.
  Tip: Regular visits to the dentist are an important part of your dental and oral health. However, if you believe that your sensitive teeth are caused by a cavity or other damage, be sure to book an additional appointment to get your teeth examined.
• Periodontitis. Periodontitis is the inflammation of the periodontium which is the area made up of the gums, root element, periodontal membrane, and jawbone. This inflammation is caused by bacterial plaque. Following the inflammation, the gums recede, exposing the sensitive tooth necks.

In addition to the above-mentioned reasons, there are several risk factors that contribute to your teeth becoming more sensitive over time. Further causes of pain-sensitive teeth are:

• Using an incorrect tooth-brushing technique. Did you know that by doing this, you could actually be supporting the abrasion of enamel? Both brushing your teeth horizontally, instead brushing from top to bottom, and pressing too hard on your teeth while brushing, encourages gum recession and abrasion of enamel.
• Teeth grinding. Teeth grinding causes the protective enamel to break down and exposes the dentin. This is particularly common in children, as they are more often affected by teeth grinding and consequently suffer from pain-sensitive teeth.⁴
• Insufficient oral hygiene. If you don’t take care of your teeth and mouth regularly and thoroughly, you’re risking several illnesses, such as periodontitis⁵ and caries.⁶ These in turn can increase the development of sensitive teeth.²
• Mediocre diet. You may not realize it, but your food habits can have a lasting impact on your dental health including leading to tooth sensitivity. Sugary and acidic foods and drinks can lead to tooth erosion, which in turn leads to hot and cold-sensitive teeth.⁷

What helps sensitive teeth? Your sensitive teeth relief guide

Whether you have a tooth sensitive to cold but not hot, or your whole mouth has pain-sensitive teeth we've got you covered. The most important thing for healthy and pain-free teeth is thorough oral care. Avoid that shocking moment when your tooth reacts to cold or hot external sources, with this guide to sensitive teeth relief:

• Brush your teeth regularly. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes on each occasion. In addition, ensure you are using a good toothbrush and toothpaste. Avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes and opt for desensitising toothpaste.
  Tip: Invest in a good quality toothbrush that helps you and your family get the most out of your regular brushing. The Philips Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige, for example, gently removes up to 20x more plaque* and helps to deeply clean your teeth. The ultra-soft brush head is especially suited for pain-sensitive teeth.
• Use dental floss. While flossing isn’t as essential as tooth brushing, it can be hugely beneficial when it comes to cleaning interdental spaces. Flossing once a day can help to remove plaque and reduce the risk of dental erosion and sensitivity.⁸
• Use mouthwash. As with flossing, this is not an essential part of your routine, however, adding mouthwash to your dental hygiene plan will help you to reach places to which you cannot get with a toothbrush and provides a good addition to your daily oral care.⁹
• Clean your tongue. A large part of the bacteria in your mouth sits in the tongue coating. This makes it imperative that you clean your tongue as regularly as your teeth. You can do this using a special tongue scraper.¹⁰

How to prevent sensitive teeth with simple remedies

Knowing the causes, and what helps sensitive teeth is only half the story. Another important step is prevention. The key to preventing sensitive teeth is to strengthen your tooth enamel. If your teeth are sensitive to cold or react with pain to other irritants, this can be an indication of weakened enamel. Avoid this with these tips for preventing sensitive teeth:

• If you’re looking for natural remedies for sensitive teeth, a quick change-up in your diet could do the trick. Consume a diet rich in minerals such as milk products, vegetables, wheat grains, and fish while avoiding too much sugary or acidic foods like fizzy drinks, desserts, and high-sodium condiments.
• Don’t brush your teeth immediately after consuming acidic food or drinks. This can do more harm than good, as it can lead to enamel damage on the surface of your teeth. Instead, wait at least half an hour before giving your teeth a good clean.
• Applying less pressure when brushing your teeth is a simple sensitive teeth remedy. Being too aggressive when brushing your teeth can erode and wear the surface enamel of your teeth. After significant damage, enamel cannot repair itself. Avoiding this damage will help you avoid sensitive teeth.
• The most obvious sensitive teeth remedy is to opt for special oral care products. Look for products that contain fluoride, which helps to strengthen the enamel.¹¹

It’s as simple as that. No matter how common sensitive teeth are, with these simple actions you can help yourself and your family to have healthy in no time. So, whether you have a tooth sensitive to cold but not hot, you can utilise our sensitive teeth remedy ideas to live with pain-free teeth.

* vs. manual toothbrush

Sources:

¹ Prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity: Systematic review and meta-analysis, ScienceDirect

² Periodontal diseases, Gov.uk

³ Dental Erosion and Medical Conditions An Overview of Aetiology, Diagnosis and Management, National Library of Medicine

⁴ Bruxism, National Library of Medicine

⁵ Gum disease, NHS

⁶ Tooth decay, NHS

⁷ Toothache, NHS

⁸ How to keep your teeth clean, NHS

⁹ Effectiveness of Desensitizing Dentifrice and Mouthwash on Dentin Hypersensitivity and Tooth Remineralization, National Library of Medicine

¹⁰ Frequency of Tongue Cleaning Impacts the Human Tongue Microbiome Composition and Enterosalivary Circulation of Nitrate, National Library of Medicine

¹¹ The Fluoride Debate: The Pros and Cons of Fluoridation, National Library of Medicine