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

Reading time: 5 mins

You’re enjoying a mouthful of delicious ice cream, only to immediately feel an uncomfortable pain in your teeth. Sound familiar? Many people have cold-sensitive teeth, but it’s not just cold that causes sensitivity. Hot, sweet, and sour food and drinks can also cause pain for people with sensitive teeth.

In fact, a recent study showed between 11 and 33 people in 100² suffer from tooth sensitivity at one point or another, and children with milk teeth often suffer from sensitive teeth as milk teeth are more susceptible to external influences.

If you’ve found yourself thinking, ‘Ouch, my teeth are sensitive’, we’ve got you covered. We’re going to explore these reasons for pain-sensitive teeth:

• Gum recession
• Poor tooth-brushing technique
• Tooth grinding
• Insufficient oral hygiene

In addition, we’ll show you the basics of good oral care for you and your children and explain how to prevent pain-sensitive teeth. Read on to discover our comprehensive guide to sensitive teeth and relief.

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 people² 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,³ 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,⁴ 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.⁵
  
• Insufficient oral hygiene. If you don’t take care of your teeth and mouth regularly and thoroughly, you’re risking several illnesses, such as periodontitis¹ and caries.⁶ These in turn can increase the development of sensitive teeth.³
• 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. This sonic toothbrush, for example, removes up to ten times more plaque in hard-to-reach areas* 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