By Elyse Brumfield, RDH
Supervised and Edited by Dr. Levy Do, DDS

Summer days mean enjoying your favorite things like vacations, sitting by the pool, and enjoying your favorite iced drinks and cold snacks. Lately, when you bite into that popsicle or take a sip of that ice water, you feel a ZING! And sometimes it doesn’t have to be cold, it can be room-temperature, or maybe even something sweet. What could possibly be causing so much sensitivity to your teeth?

Here are 8 possible reasons why your teeth could be sensitive and ways to fix them.

8 Causes of Tooth Sensitivity:

1. Whitening - One of the most common causes of sensitive teeth is caused by whitening your teeth. Over-the-counter whitening remedies such as charcoal and whitening toothpaste are abrasive while apple cider vinegar and fruit scrubs are acidic. Both of these are harsh on the protective layer of your teeth called the enamel and can wear it away, making the nerves of the teeth more exposed to temperatures and air, which cause pain. It can take several days for the enamel pores to close completely, leaving the nerves of the tooth exposed. A better option if you’d like to have whiter teeth without suffering for weeks is ZOOM in-office whitening. In-office whitening is quicker & safer because of the proper isolation technique, high concentration of whitening gel activated by the patented & proven Zoom light, and the professional desensitizing treatment with MI Paste. It actually opens the pores of the enamel and allows the peroxide ingredients to whiten the deep internal yellow part of the tooth called dentin, which is why most patients get up to 4-6 shades whiter in about an hour with minimal sensitivity.

2. Sinus Pressure - Have you been having sinus pressure, headaches, a stuffy or runny nose? Colds and allergies cause our sinuses to be inflamed and filled with fluid, so the pain in your teeth could be caused by the inflammation in your sinuses which are located right above your upper teeth. When biting down, it causes the roots of your teeth to press into your sinus lining which can be painful. If the sinuses are filled with fluid, then your teeth can have a constant aching feeling.

3. Root Exposure - As we get older, our gums start to recede, meaning the gums wear away or pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots of the teeth which are much closer to the nerve canals. This can be caused by gum disease, brushing too hard, clenching habits, or even just genetics. As temperatures, air, or even your toothbrush hits those areas, it can be very sensitive.

4. Enamel Wear - The enamel is the outer layer of the tooth, and a fun fact: it’s the hardest tissue in the body! It can still be damaged or worn down by acidic foods like lemons or sodas. It can even be worn down by grinding your teeth. Enamel protects the middle part of the tooth called dentin, which is where the pulp or nerve chamber of your teeth resides. If you’ve looked in the mirror at your teeth and see that it’s yellow in the middle or on the backside of the teeth, there is a good chance that your tooth enamel is wearing down and exposing the dentin, causing sensitivity when you eat or drink.

5. Cavities - Working from home or going on vacation means that you’re probably eating or snacking more frequently throughout the day, or maybe even falling out of the routine of brushing and flossing. Every time you eat something acidic (sugary or starchy) your tooth enamel gets soft and makes it easy for the bad bacteria in your mouth to eat a hole in the tooth, known as a cavity. Once the cavity reaches through the enamel and dentin, it gets closer to the nerves of the tooth, making it sensitive. Common foods that can contribute to this are desserts, chips, crackers, sodas, or energy drinks, to name a few.

6. Infection - If you’ve ever bitten down on something and immediately felt a sharp pain, deep in the jaw that radiates and lingers, there may be an infection around that tooth. This can be caused by a cavity reaching the nerves of the tooth and spreading down into the roots. The bacteria infect the periodontal ligaments around the tooth’s roots and it fills with puss, sometimes causing a small bump on the side of the tooth, known as an abscess. This can cause a lot of pain and sensitivity, especially when biting down.

7. Mobility - When the bone around the teeth is healthy, the teeth are tight and secure within the bone. When there is bone loss, either from periodontal disease or sometimes even orthodontics (braces), the teeth can shift in the bone, causing the roots to be more exposed. As mentioned before, when the roots are exposed, the nerves are exposed and make the teeth sensitive to temperatures, sweets, and even brushing.

8. Trauma - Remember the last time you ran into something and a bruise popped up? The same thing can happen to your teeth! The teeth are surrounded by a little band of tissue called a periodontal ligament (PDL) that creates a little cushion between the roots of the teeth and the bone that the teeth sit in. The PDL helps the teeth function when biting or applying pressure from clenching or grinding. If it is hit too hard, though, the PDL can bruise, causing sensitivity or pain when biting down.

9. Cracked Tooth - Your teeth, especially ones with large metal fillings are prone to fractures over time due to wear and tear. I compare it to the streets of Houston. Cracked tooth syndrome usually occurs when the cracks on your teeth have passed the enamel and into the dentin, and sometimes even into the pulpal chamber (nerves). This usually makes the teeth super sensitive to cold and uncomfortable to eat. In some instances, your teeth can crack all the way to the roots which will usually present with pain as well as swelling, followed by an infection.

Ways to Relieve Tooth Sensitivity:

1. Try a sensitive toothpaste - Sensitivity toothpastes are may alleviate sensitivity with active ingredients such as potassium nitrate and fluoride. These ingredients help by covering the little pores in the enamel (dentinal tubules) and strengthen the enamel to protect the nerve endings from feeling sensitivity. This is helpful when whitening teeth or if you have gum recession.

2. Avoid abrasive or acidic products - As mentioned earlier, charcoal and apple cider toothpaste whiten the teeth because they contain small particles that scrape off the surface stains, but because of that, can be abrasive to the teeth and wear away the enamel faster. The same applies to any acidic foods or drinks such as lemons, limes, oranges, and sodas which quickly wear the enamel off when eaten too often. Avoid using or eating these products more than a couple of times a week. Products marketed as “extra whitening” and products with baking soda and peroxide are usually way too harsh for your teeth.

3. Change your dental habits - Are you still using a manual toothbrush? Do scrub your teeth when you’re brushing? It’s probably time to change your old habits. First, invest in a good, new electric toothbrush such as the Philips Sonicare or the Oral B. These toothbrushes are made with softer bristles that gently clean around the gums and contain a pressure sensor to let you know when you’re pressing too hard to avoid recession. Plus, with the newest technology, they do all the work for you! No more scrubbing those gums!

4. Invest in a custom night guard appliance - It’s hard to know if you grind or clench at night, but if you’re stressed and you wake up with a sore jaw, headaches, or teeth that are sore, looking flat and sensitive to temperatures or pressure, chances are you do it without realizing. A custom night guard is made at the dentist and will protect your teeth, jaw joints, as well as prevent pain. This appliance is also designed to deprogram and reprogram the jaw muscles, teaching them to relax, which prevents an over-worked jaw muscle and a bruised PDL.

5. Schedule an appointment - When in doubt, call us to schedule an appointment to have your area of sensitivity looked at. There are so many reasons you may be having sensitivity and it could be nothing, or it could be a cavity, infection, trauma, or gum disease. We can help you find the culprit of the irritating sensitivity and get a game plan to help you get rid of it!

Tooth sensitivity is annoying and can turn into an emergency. If you’re suffering or know someone who is, we can help! If you haven’t already, give us a call or schedule an appointment today to get things checked out and get back on track! If you know of someone who has sensitive teeth, please share this article. We look forward to seeing you soon. :)