tooth sensitivity

Are your teeth sensitive to hot, cold, or sweet?

Keep scrolling to learn more about the anatomy of teeth, factors that cause tooth sensitivity, products to help, and what to ask for at your dental cleanings so you’re not afraid to get your teeth cleaned.

TOOTH ANATOMY

Tooth sensitivity is largely caused by exposure to a tooth’s dentin. The dentin has little pores, similar to our face, that have tiny tubules that lead straight to the nerve of our teeth. When dentin is exposed (most often caused by gum recession), it has many nerves inside therefore letting you know that it’s responding to heat, cold, or touch by making you say “ouch”! The pain can range from a twinge to just excruciating. On a daily basis, I have patients that are so anxious when it comes to dental cleanings due to the fear of feeling this sensitivity.

In this article, you will learn what can cause gum recession, how to manage gum recession, and things to tell your dentist or dental hygienist so you’re not afraid of feeling pain during a cleaning.

  • When you wash a dirty skillet, it makes sense that the harder you scrub, the cleaner your pan will be. But the same doesn’t hold true for your teeth. In fact, aggressive brushing damages the enamel on your teeth and wears away your gum tissue.

    Brushing too hard or using a toothbrush with hard bristles can lead to recession or tooth wear. Always use the softest toothbrush possible to prevent tooth abrasion and the correct motion to toothbrushing is applying small up-and-down circular strokes angling the bristles 45 degrees towards the gumline. This is called ‘The Bass Method’.

  • Have you ever heard the saying “sip all day, get decay”? Sipping on sugary, acidic, and carbonated drinks for a long period of time can lead to erosion by actually wearing away the enamel. The enamel is the protective layer of the tooth that prevents sensitivity to sweets and temperatures. If the enamel if being worn away, your tooth is more at risk for a cavity and sensitivity.

    How can I prevent erosion but love these types of drinks?

    Consume beverages within 1 hour and then brush your teeth after to return your mouth to a neutral pH. Drink water in-between sugary and acidic beverages to rinse out your mouth. Eat something that has a basic pH in between beverages like cheese to help neutralize your mouth. ALWAYS brush your teeth and use an anti-cavity mouth rinse BEFORE bed.

  • If you grind your teeth, the force can irritate and damage your gums until they begin to pull away from your teeth. This condition, called bruxism, often occurs at night, and many people who have it aren’t aware of the problem.

    Receding gums may be your first warning sign, along with headaches and worn teeth.

  • The early stage of gum disease, gingivitis, leads to red, swollen gums, and if you ignore it, it can progress to periodontitis, a more advanced form of gum disease that involves bacterial buildup, inflammation, infection, and gum tissue damage, including recession.

  • If you don’t brush and floss daily, the bacteria on your teeth turn to plaque, a sticky substance that covers your teeth. If you leave it there, plaque turns into calculus or tartar, a hard substance that’s much more difficult to remove.

    When tartar works its way under your gums, it separates them from your teeth, and your gums begin to recede.

  • As the peroxide product bleaches away the stains on your teeth, it also causes slight demineralization which makes your teeth more porous. This exposes microtubules (also called dentinal tubules) within your teeth. These tiny, microscopic channels lead from the surface of the tooth to the center of the tooth, where they connect to the nerves of your tooth.

    These dentinal tubules are what allow you to feel sensations on your teeth. When they’re exposed due to demineralization, they become much more sensitive and hyperactive, which can cause feelings of tooth pain and sensitivity.

  • Your teeth feel sensitive due to bacteria that is thinning down your tooth enamel. Enamel protects the nerves in the teeth. When bacteria begin to eat through the layer of enamel, your nerves will make your teeth feel sensitive to sweets.

what causes sensitive teeth?

How to feel less anxious at the dentist

Don’t be afraid to let your dentist or hygienist know that you have sensitive teeth. By letting them know, they can help discover what is causing this sensitivity and reduce your pain.

Here are some things your dental provider can do to make you more comfortable:

  • If you experience generalized sensitivity to cold, ask your hygienist to use topical numbing jelly on your teeth and gums during the cleaning to help make you more comfortable.

  • Try using a sensitive toothpaste or ‘MI Paste’ from your dentist two weeks before your cleanings. This will help clog the pores on your recessed areas, therefore, making the cleanings less sensitive.

  • Ask your dental hygienist to hand scale your teeth and to not use “the water machine”. The ultrasonic scaler can make recessed areas a little more sensitive due to the ultrasonic waves and cold water.

  • Ask your hygienist about the proper method of brushing and flossing. Don’t be embarrassed to ask! I ask my patients to demonstrate to me their technique at home and I always give tips to modify them. Improper brushing and flossing can lead to gum recession.

everything to know about toothpaste for sensitive teeth

  • Sensitive teeth, also known as hypersensitivity, can be uncomfortable and even painful. In some instances, this can be a symptom of an underlying problem, see your dentist before using toothpaste for sensitive teeth to treat your symptoms. Once underlying issues have been ruled out, it may make sense to switch to toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

    If you feel pain when your teeth are exposed to a change in temperature, you may have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are an indicator that something is changing in your mouth. This comes down to the relationship between enamel, dentin, and nerves, she says. Enamel is the outer part of your teeth. When enamel is damaged, the inner part of the tooth—the dentin—is exposed. The pores in dentin extend to the tooth’s nerves, and these nerves interpret hot or cold temperatures as pain.

    If your sensitivity doesn’t improve, visit your dentist. Like anything oral health-related, see your dentist when it begins to worry you or when it becomes a proper nuisance and sensitive teeth shouldn’t interfere with your daily life, sleep schedule, or eating patterns.

  • Based on dentist advice and scientific research, the following ingredients are best for reducing sensitive teeth:

    Potassium nitrate, Sodium fluoride, Stannous fluoride, Hydroxyapatite, Arginine, Calcium carbonate

    The ingredient our dentists recommend the most? Potassium nitrate. Toothpaste with potassium nitrate helps with sensitivity because it restores your enamel by filling in those areas that have experienced enamel erosion, exposing the sensitive portion of your tooth, the dentin. Dentin is filled with nerve endings, so when it comes in contact with something really cold or hot, it's shocking. The potassium nitrate becomes a restorative barrier in those places.

  • When it comes to sensitivity, abrasive and whitening ingredients are the ones to watch out for. 

    Whitening toothpastes are more abrasive and can irritate the exposed dentin pores. Whitening strips and treatments tend to increase sensitivity, and the same is true of whitening agents in toothpaste. Some toothpaste for sensitive teeth has whitening properties, and those with severe sensitivity may choose an alternative as a result.

    Abrasive ingredients help scrub the tooth to get it squeaky clean, but this can worsen enamel issues and accelerate sensitivity. Look for low-abrasive toothpaste if you have sensitive teeth.

products

mi paste

  • Only available for purchase through a dental office only. MI paste is a prescription lotion for your teeth. Use it every night before going to sleep.

  • MI Paste is a water-based, sugar-free cream that comes in a tube like toothpaste. When applied directly to your teeth, it can help condition, protect and rebuild your teeth’s surface. MI Paste uses calcium and phosphate to replenish these minerals in your teeth and strengthen them.

  • It’s actually not toothpaste, it’s a lotion for your teeth

    You may not realize it, but your mouth likes balance. Think of a scale. In its normal, healthy state, when you’re not eating or drinking, your mouth’s pH is nearly neutral, similar to that of water. It’s balanced. Every time you eat or drink, acid is introduced into your mouth and your pH level becomes more acidic or imbalanced from a pH standpoint. This is why your dentist advises against all-day snacking or soda drinking. Other things like plaque and tartar buildup, certain medications, or illness can add acid to your mouth’s pH level. When your mouth’s pH is acidic, plaque and tartar buildup, and ultimately tooth decay happens. Your saliva is your body’s natural oral defense system. It protects teeth and soft tissues, flushes bacteria and food away from the teeth, and reduces enamel abrasion. Its buffering ability helps neutralize acids to restore normal pH levels and can replenish the calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions that are so important for remineralizing your teeth’s enamel.

  • -Dentists and patients have found success using MI Paste to treat or as part of treatment for:

    -Alleviating dry mouth caused by certain medications and medical treatments

    -Reducing high oral acid levels from excessive soft-drink consumption, although the best treatment is to avoid the consumption of soft drinks

    -Helping with tooth sensitivity before or after professional cleaning

    -Helping pregnant women who may have high oral acid levels associated with pregnancy

    -Buffering acids produced by oral bacteria and plaque

    -Preventing white spot lesions that can occur during orthodontic treatment

    -Providing a topical coating to ease suffering from acid erosion, caries, and conditions arising from dry mouth, often medication-induced

  • Buy on Amazon for $6.92 (Click here)

  • It contains potassium nitrate, a natural compound that desensitizes the dental nerve.

  • There’s a reason why Sensodyne is the most recommended toothpaste for sensitive teeth by dentists—it works, and it’s vetted by experts. Sensodyne is a dentist-recommended brand. While there’s no shortage of Sensodyne toothpastes to choose from, they’re not all formulated with the same active ingredients. This one contains the maximum amount of potassium nitrate allowed, which has been shown to significantly decrease tooth sensitivity. It also contains sodium fluoride to protect against cavities and a whitening agent, though some with severely sensitive teeth usually opt to avoid whitening toothpastes.

  • (Pack of 5) Buy on Amazon for $20.00 (Click here)

  • It contains the same active ingredients as our top pick at a lower price point.

  • Toothpastes designed for sensitive teeth tend to be pricier than regular toothpastes. Opting for this one by Arm & Hammer can save you a few bucks, though you won’t be missing out on any anti-sensitivity benefits since it contains the same active ingredients as our top Sensodyne choice—potassium nitrate to decrease sensitivity and sodium fluoride to protect against cavities. What’s more, the tube is slightly larger, making it an even better value.

  • (Pack of 3) Buy on Amazon for $19.49 (Click here)

  • It relieves sensitivity by coating dentin with natural ingredients like arginine and calcium carbonate.

  • The active ingredients in conventional toothpaste, such as fluoride, may occur naturally, but the inactive ingredients often fall in the gray area. For example, some toothpaste products contain artificial dyes and flavors. This pick from Tom’s of Maine has a simpler ingredient list with ingredients that are naturally derived, such as peppermint oil for flavor and freshness.

    Speaking of its natural ingredients, this toothpaste is powered by arginine and calcium carbonate instead of traditional fluoride—in fact, it’s fluoride-free. Together, this duo significantly reduces dentin hypersensitivity, per a 2018 clinical study. They work by occluding dentin tubules, which are responsible for the sensation of sensitivity and pain when exposed, according to earlier research.

    However, natural products often come at a higher price point, and this toothpaste is no exception. You’ll pay more for a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, and this one is on the higher end.

  • Buy on Amazon for $10.76 (Click here)

  • It comes with a tube roller, so you can squeeze out every last drop.

  • For those looking for a natural and fluoride-free toothpaste for sensitive teeth, this one is a solid option. Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s thoughtfully formulated to reduce sensitivity without conventional ingredients. By now, you might be expecting potassium nitrate and fluoride to make appearances, but their anti-sensitivity properties are actually attributed to hydroxyapatite, a mineral with quite a few dental benefits.

    It also contains other beneficial ingredients, such as calcium carbonate to polish enamel, baking soda to whiten, and xylitol to protect against cavities. Fluoride is the gold standard for cavity prevention, but xylitol is an effective option for those looking for a fluoride-free alternative. Xylitol inhibits the growth of cavity-causing bacteria, making it less likely for decay-causing bacteria to survive on the surface of teeth.

  • The tube is recyclable to planet friendly