Online Dental Education Library
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.
Bridge
Bridge vs Implant
Bruxism
Caring for Dental Implant
Caring for Implant Supported Bridge
Caring for Traditional Bridge
Causes of Tooth Pain
Composite Filling (Posterior)
Composite vs Amalgam Filling
Consequence of Bone Loss
Cracked Tooth
Debridement
Dental Erosion
Endodontic Abscess
Filling vs Crown
Gingivitis
Gingival Probing & Pocket Depth
Gingival Recession
Healthy Gums
Impacted 3rd Molars
Implant Supported Bridge
Manual vs Electric Toothbrush
Missing Teeth
Non-Carious Cervical Lesions
Occlusal Appliance for Tooth Wear
Oral Hygiene
Progression of Decay
Plaque and Calculus
Progression of Decay
Proper Brushing Techniques
Proper Flossing Techniques
Root Canal
Root Canal with Post-Core Buildup
Root Canal with Post Core Impression
Recurrent Decay Around Restoration
Scaling and Root Planing
Single Crown
Single Implant
Single Tooth Loss
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Tooth Wear
Trauma-Chipped Tooth
Understanding Tooth Wear
Veneers
Whitening with Bleaching Trays
What Does it Mean to Have Healthy Gums?
Why Do Teeth Crack?
What is Occlusion?
What is TMD?
If you wince with pain after sipping a hot cup of coffee or chewing a piece of ice, chances are that you suffer from "dentin hypersensitivity," or more commonly, sensitive teeth.
Hot and cold temperature changes cause your teeth to expand and contract. Over time, your teeth can develop microscopic cracks that allow these sensations to seep through to the nerves. Exposed areas of the tooth can cause pain and even affect or change your eating, drinking and breathing habits.
At least 45 million adults in the United States suffer at some time from sensitive teeth.
Sensitive teeth result when the underlying layer of your teeth (the dentin) becomes exposed. This can happen on the chewing surface of the tooth as well as at the gum line. In some cases, sensitive teeth are the result of gum disease, years of unconsciously clenching or grinding your teeth, or improper or too vigorous brushing (if the bristles of your toothbrush are pointing in multiple directions, you're brushing too hard).
Abrasive toothpastes are sometimes the culprit of sensitive teeth. Ingredients found in some whitening toothpastes that lighten and/or remove certain stains from enamel, and sodium pyrophosphate, the key ingredient in tartar-control toothpastes, may increase tooth sensitivity.
In some cases, desensitizing toothpaste, sealants, desensitizing ionization and filling materials including fluoride, and decreasing the intake of acid-containing foods can alleviate some of the pain associated with sensitive teeth.
Sometimes, a sensitive tooth may be confused by a patient for a cavity or abscess that is not yet visible.
In any case, contact your dentist if you notice any change in your teeth's sensitivity to temperature.