Sensitive teeth
A short, sharp twinge with cold air, cold drinks or sweet food is very common. It usually means the dentine under the enamel is exposed. Pain that lingers for minutes, wakes you at night or stays in one tooth is different, and needs an examination.
Common causes
Acidic food and drinks, grinding, or hard brushing thin the enamel and expose the sensitive layer underneath.
General dentistry: check-ups, cleaning and fillings →Receding gumsWhen the gum pulls back, the root surface is exposed. Roots have no enamel, so they react to cold and touch.
Gum treatment →A cavitySharp pain with sweet or cold in one spot. Early cavities can be filled in one visit.
General dentistry: check-ups, cleaning and fillings →Cracked or leaking fillingA worn or chipped filling lets cold and sugar reach the tooth. Sensitivity may be new in a tooth that was filled years ago.
General dentistry: check-ups, cleaning and fillings →Cracked toothPain with cold or when you release a bite, often on one cusp. Hard to see without magnification.
Crowns and bridges →Inflamed nervePain that lingers after hot or cold, or is spontaneous. The nerve inside the tooth is affected, and a root canal may be needed.
Root canal treatment →After whitening or a dental cleanMild, short-lived sensitivity is common for a few days after whitening or scaling and usually settles.
Teeth whitening →See a dentist today if you have
- Pain that lingers for minutes after hot or cold, or wakes you at night
- Sensitivity in one tooth with swelling of the gum or face
- Fever with tooth pain
- Sensitivity after an injury or a broken tooth
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing: go to a hospital now
- Use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth twice a day, and leave it on the teeth for a minute before rinsing lightly. It can take 2–4 weeks to help.
- Brush gently with a soft brush; use small circular strokes rather than scrubbing.
- Limit acidic drinks such as fizzy drinks and fruit juice, and do not brush for 30 minutes after having them.
- Avoid very cold or hot food on the sensitive side.
- If you grind your teeth at night, mention it to your dentist.
Questions patients ask
Is sensitive teeth the same as a cavity?
No, but a cavity can cause sensitivity. Sensitivity that comes and goes across several teeth is often exposed dentine. Pain in one tooth, or pain that lingers, suggests a cavity or nerve problem and needs an examination.
Will sensitive toothpaste fix it?
It helps many people with generalised sensitivity within a few weeks. It does not fix a cavity, a crack or an infection, so if there is no improvement in 3–4 weeks have it checked.
Can sensitivity go away on its own?
Mild sensitivity after whitening or a dental clean usually settles in days. Sensitivity from worn enamel or gum recession tends to continue until the cause is managed.
What can a dentist do?
Options include fluoride varnish, a desensitising bonding agent, filling a worn area or cavity, treating gum problems, or a night guard if you grind. The choice depends on the cause.
Which dentist will I see?
Dr. Nimisha Pandya examines you first. If the nerve is involved, Dr. Neha Agrawal, our endodontist, does root canal treatment.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.