Types of Tooth Sensitivity and What they Might Mean for Your Mouth
Have you ever felt pain when drinking a hot cup of coffee or when eating your favorite ice cream? Do you often avoid eating a candy bar because you teeth may hurt? If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions you might be suffering from tooth hypersensitivity. Also known as dentin hypersensitivity, tooth sensitivity affects over 40 million adults in the United States alone, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
Tooth sensitivity is more common when you eat or drink something cold, hot, sour or sweet. It can affect one or more teeth at any time but, in more severe cases, all teeth can be painful to even the slightest temperature variation (for instance, when breathing in cold air during winter days). Generally, the pain is sharp and sudden, but in some cases it can be dull and persistent, lingering on for hours.
The main culprit for tooth sensitivity is damaged dentin. This soft protective layer covers the inner part of your tooth and roots. When the dentin is damaged, the small tubes that lead to the center of the tooth are left unprotected, allowing the trigger food (cold, hot, sweet or sour) reach the nerves. There are other causes for sensitive teeth, such as: tooth decay, wear and tear of the enamel and dentin, gum disease (gingivitis), teeth damage (chipped or broken teeth), plaque buildup, excessive use of teeth whitening products and various types of invasive dental work.
There are several types of tooth sensitivity symptoms. Let’s see what do they mean and what you can do:
Hot or cold foods and liquids sensitivity — this is by far the most common symptom among tooth sensitivity patients. If the discomfort or pain lasts for more than 5 seconds, it might be a sign of tooth decay, a loose filling or an exposed area of the root, caused by either gum recession (in turn, caused by gingivitis) or tooth abrasion. You should use a sensitive, soft tooth brush and a special tooth paste made for sensitive tooth patients (with fluoride). Don’t brush more than twice a day and, if the pain continues, visit your dentist.
Pain when biting or chewing food — This type of tooth pain can be a sign of tooth decay, a loose filling or a cracked/chipped tooth. If you experience this type of pain, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. He or she will assess your situation and will either perform a root canal treatment to clean the area or seal the damaged area. This procedure can be quite complex if the affected area is large or if the pulp is damaged as well.
Lingering pain after eating cold or hot foods and liquids — If the pain lingers on for several hours, it can be a sign of deep tooth decay, physical trauma or inflamed pulp. You should see a dentist as soon as possible to assess your situation. The pain can become severe if there is an abscess. Your doctor may perform a root canal clean up to remove the dead pulp tissue.
Dull ache and pressure near the sinus area — This type of pain can appear on either one side or on both sides of the sinus. It appears in the upper teeth area and can be quite uncomfortable. It can easily be confused to sinus pain, which is caused by a congestion following a cold or flu. See your dentist or your primary care doctor as soon as possible to determine whether it’s a tooth or a sinus pain. Don’t wait until it worsens.
Acute, constant pain in an area, but not sure which tooth — Many patients say they feel pain, but are unsure where it comes from. When this happens, the pulp tissue of a tooth might be infected. This happens as a response to the decay which reached the nerve area in the center of the tooth. See your dentist as soon as possible. He or she will perform a root canal treatment to remove the infected pulp, thus saving your tooth.
