Tooth sensitivity is something that many of us suffer from at some point in our life. It can happen in just one tooth, one area or all over the mouth. It can come and go. But most of all, it will drive us crazy. 

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by a variety of different things. We will explain the root cause of the most common tooth sensitivity issues. The most common cause of sensitivity is too much pressure being placed on the teeth. This pressure is from touching the tooth and bottom teeth together — clenching, grinding or sliding the teeth together. Each tooth has nerves inside, in the gums and around the outside root. When you clench, grind or slide a tooth, it causes the tooth to flex. This flexion causes the nerves in and around the tooth to become triggered. When the nerves are chronically triggered, it will cause the nerves to get inflamed and grumpy. The result of this is sensitivity to hot and cold. 

Another cause of sensitivity is whitening toothpaste. All toothpaste contains some type of pumice. Pumice is a type of rock that is ground down into different thicknesses or consistencies. In normal toothpaste, the pumice is ground to a fine consistency.  Whitening toothpaste contains coarser pumice stone for enhanced stain removal. The larger, coarser particles scratch the surface of the tooth more aggressively than other toothpaste. The goals of this pumice to scrub the tooth more to remove more stain. Over time, aggressive scratching can cause the teeth to become sensitive. The best way to resolve this issue is to change toothpaste. If whitening is a concern and whitening toothpaste works, use this a few times a week.  

Lastly, tooth sensitivity can be caused by aggressive tooth brushing. The dental nerd term for this is abrasion. When a toothbrush is aggressively pressed against the tooth and gums, it can traumatize the gums. Long term damage causes the gums next to the tooth to recede. Recession causes the root to the tooth to become exposed. Unfortunately, the roots of the teeth are not protected by enamel and the nerves are exposed directly to what is going on in the mouth. The result of this is sensitivity to hot and cold. 

Tooth sensitivity is annoying and can be very painful. However, it is a complex problem that cannot be resolved without determining its root cause. Without addressing the root cause, the sensitivity can only be “masked” with things like professional desensitizer or Sensodyne toothpaste. Instead, treating the source of the problem will be the best way to guarantee a pain free experience and smile.