Teeth Sensitivity: Causes, Treatment , Prevention and More

What is teeth sensitivity?

Have you ever flinched or yelled out while eating an ice cream or having a hot cup of tea or coffee? Well, the sudden pain or discomfort you experienced is termed as teeth sensitivity. Also called ‘Dentinal hypersensitivity’ in dental terms, teeth sensitivity occurs in response to hot or cold stimuli. This can be an acute or a chronic problem and can result from a variety of causes. A large majority of the world’s population suffers from teeth sensitivity.

When Do Your Teeth Become Sensitive?

To understand this, we must know about the structure and layers in our teeth. Each tooth in our mouth is made up of three layers the outer enamel(in the crown) and cementum(in root), the middle dentine and the innermost pulp. The pulp layer contains nerves and blood vessels. The dentinal layer contains microscopic tubules that contain the extensions of these nerves from the pulpal layer and a fluid with mechanoreceptors. Whenever the fluid in these tubules is irritated, the mechanoreceptors trigger the nerve endings in the tubules, eliciting sensitivity and pain, as the case may be.

These receptors are triggered due to various environmental factors like cold and hot foods, cold air, sour food, air pressure, cold and hot drinks. However, these receptors are triggered only when the dentinal tubules are exposed i.e., the enamel layer on your tooth is lost.

Some common causes of dentinal exposure are:

• Excessively hard brushing
• Using a hard bristle brush
• Improper brushing technique
• Poor oral hygiene
• Cavities that are left untreated
• An old filling with leakage
• Gum recession that exposes the tooth root
• Gum surgery that results in tooth exposure
• Occupational causes that result in notching of teeth(seen in tailors, cobblers, etc.,)
• Frequent consumption of acidic foods and drinks
• Teeth sensitivity after teeth whitening treatment
• Sensitivity following a dental filling

Dentinal hypersensitivity usually occurs in 2 or more teeth, whereas sensitivity in the pulp usually affects only one tooth.

How is Teeth Sensitivity Diagnosed?

If you experience teeth sensitivity, you must visit your dentist immediately. All our dentists at Sabka Dentist clinics are well-trained at diagnosing and treating teeth sensitivity.

When you arrive at the clinic, the dentist will evaluate your teeth and take a proper history of your brushing and other habits. X-rays may be taken to diagnose if your teeth sensitivity is due to tooth cavities or other gum and bone issues.

Based on your symptoms, your hypersensitivity will be diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe.

How is Teeth Sensitivity Treated?

Teeth sensitivity is easy to treat, no matter the cause of the problem. The first step to treating your teeth sensitivity is to do a full-mouth teeth cleaning(scaling). If you feel excessive sensitivity, your dentist will apply a local anesthetic in the area.

There are three ways your teeth sensitivity can be treated:

• Obstruction of your dentinal tubules
• De-sensitizing the nerve fibers or blocking their transmission
• Altering of dentinal tubules using lasers

If your teeth sensitivity is mild, your dentist will prescribe an over-the-counter toothpaste, gel or a mouth rinse. These products usually have de-sensitizing agents that block the nerve impulse, and reduce sensitivity. Mouth washes, if prescribed, are usually non-alcoholic in nature.

If your teeth sensitivity does not resolve with OTC products, your dentist will suggest prescription products that should improve your condition in a week. In some cases, your dentist will also apply fluoride gel, sealant or other de-sensitizing agents in-office. These products help in reducing your sensitivity as well as strengthen the enamel of your teeth.

While your dentist resolves your teeth sensitivity, it is also important to attend to the cause of the same.

• If your teeth sensitivity is due to a gum problem, a gum specialist will be called in to treat it.
• In cases where there is extensive loss of enamel from teeth, a crown, or onlay will be advised to reduce the sensitivity.
• If your teeth sensitivity causes excessive pain, a root canal procedure followed by dental crown placement may be advised.
• If your teeth sensitivity is due to clenching or grinding of teeth, you will be given a mouth guard to protect further loss of enamel from the surfaces of your teeth.

Is it Teeth Sensitivity or a Cavity?

A thorough oral evaluation and x-rays are helpful in determining if your sensitivity is a result of a cavity or a general hypersensitivity issue resulting from loss of enamel. In the case of a cavity, the type of pain is often slightly prolonged whereas, with hypersensitivity, the pain is usually transient and appears only on application of stimuli.

When tooth sensitivity and associated pain occurs on exposure to hot drinks or food, it is a cavity that has exposed the pulp of the tooth and requires root canal treatment.

How to Prevent Teeth Sensitivity?

Teeth sensitivity is very easily preventable. Here’s what you need to do to avoid it:

• Use a medium or soft-bristled brush. Use gentle, light strokes while brushing.
• Avoid eating excessive acidic foods.
• Stop clenching or grinding your teeth. Your dentist will provide you with a mouthguard to prevent your teeth from grinding against each other.
• Avoid teeth whitening procedures until your sensitivity issue has been resolved.
• Opt for a gum surgery if your receding gums are the cause of your teeth sensitivity.
• Get a routine bi-yearly teeth cleaning done by your dentist as it helps to remove plaque, deposits and calculus, that can be a cause for gum recession and subsequent teeth sensitivity issues.
• Replace a cracked filling or get your cracked tooth restored with a filling or crown by your dentist.
• If your teeth sensitivity is a result of a medical condition like acidity or GERD(Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disorder), you must visit your physician for treatment of the same.

Conclusion

Teeth sensitivity is a very common dental problem. Once the cause of the sensitivity is identified, it is very easily treatable. If you or anyone you know is facing this sensitive problem, visit your nearest Sabka Dentist clinic today for an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.