About one in eight Americans experiences tooth sensitivity, a persistent condition that causes sensations of aching or pain when teeth are exposed to warm or cold temperatures. While some sensitivity concerns can be temporary — like the sensitivity you may experience after a dental treatment — other times, symptoms can be chronic, taking a toll not only on your comfort, but on your quality of life, as well.
Tooth sensitivity can be treated, and in most cases, treatment improves the overall health of the tooth, too. In this post, the team at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC explains why sensitivity happens and what we can do to help you feel better.
Tooth sensitivity typically happens when the protective outer enamel layer of your teeth is damaged or worn down, exposing the sensitive dentin underneath. Dentin contains tiny channels that travel from the enamel layer inward to the tooth nerve. When you eat or drink something hot, cold, sweet, or acidic, temperature signals travel through those channels, and the nerve responds, leaving you with lingering pain.
Sensitivity can be caused by several issues, ranging from aggressive brushing to poor oral hygiene to frequent use of at-home whitening products. All these issues can wear down enamel or lead to gum recession, exposing the sensitive root surfaces.
For many people, though, it’s an underlying tooth problem that’s triggering their symptoms. Broken or chipped teeth can expose more of your dentin layer, leading to marked sensitivity, even when you breathe in cold air.
You don’t need a big fracture to experience sensitivity either — tiny fissures too small for you to see on your own can still be large enough to cause pain. Deep infections or abscesses can cause sensitivity, too, and so can tiny cracks around fillings, crowns, or other restorations.
Because different factors can cause or contribute to sensitivity issues, the first step in treating those issues is to schedule a visit with our team so we can perform a thorough evaluation. Then, we recommend a treatment plan based specifically on your needs to eliminate sensitivity and ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy.
During your visit, we perform an evaluation of your teeth, looking for signs of wear or damage and taking X-rays to see “inside” your teeth and below your gumline. We use other methods to evaluate sensitivity, too, like the “tap test.” During this simple evaluation, we gently tap the surfaces of your teeth to check for any signs of tenderness or discomfort that could indicate a cavity, abscess, or other problem. Sometimes, we touch a tooth with a cold substance to see if it triggers symptoms.
Your specific treatment plan depends on the problems we identify during your visit. In some instances, we may simply recommend a new brushing technique or nonabrasive toothpaste to reduce enamel wear. If you have a cavity or a deep infection, we may recommend a filling or root canal treatment to remove decayed tissue and protect the tooth from further damage.
Unlike a “regular” toothache, tooth sensitivity symptoms tend to diminish in the moments (or hours) after exposure to a cold or hot temperature. Even if your symptoms go away for a while, it doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Without prompt care, you can wind up with a far more serious problem that affects the structure and integrity of your tooth or the tissues around it.
Our team can help determine the cause of your sensitivity issues and provide a solution to prevent further problems. To learn more, call 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC in New York City today.
