8 Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity - Which One Do You Suffer From?

If you’ve ever cringed in pain while enjoying a hot or cold beverage, you’re not alone.

Tooth sensitivity affects countless individuals, leading to discomfort and hindering the enjoyment of everyday activities.

What causes tooth sensitivity? There are several culprits. We’ll explore them today.

However, if you’re experiencing sensitivity, we urge you to schedule an appointment with your El Segundo dentist. They can discover the root cause of your sensitivity and provide you with several options to help ease or eliminate your symptoms.

What is Tooth Sensitivity, and How Does It Feel?

Not all tooth sensitivity is the same. However, there are some instances when there are similarities. You might feel like a “zing” of electricity has gone through your tooth. Or you might experience aching when you eat hot or cold foods and beverages. And some people feel throbbing pain for a few seconds after exposure to something that causes sensitivity.

How Does Tooth Sensitivity Impact Daily Life?

Sensitivity isn’t fun. It can hold you back from doing (and consuming!) the things you love. You might avoid cold foods (like ice cream or ice water on a hot day), warm foods, or exposing your teeth to cold air. When you have sensitivity, you think about your teeth more than necessary.

What Are the 8 Main Causes of Tooth Sensitivity?

When you decide you’ve had enough of suffering with sensitivity, call your El Segundo dentist. They’ll perform some tests and take X-rays to discover the root cause of your discomfort. Patients with sensitivity often suffer from one or more of the following issues.

1. Enamel Erosion

One of the most common causes of sensitivity is erosion. When the enamel erodes, it wears away and exposes the second layer of the tooth called dentin. Dentin is very porous, and directly beneath this layer is the pulp chamber (or nerve) of the tooth).

When you breathe in cold air or drink something hot or cold, the temperature irritates the nerve because the “outside world” has access to it via the dentinal tubules.

The leading cause of enamel erosion is acid.Certain foods and beverages are higher in acids than others, including:

• Citurs fruits
• Tomatoes
• Coffee
• Tea
• Soda
• Pineapples
• Sauerkraut
• Beer
• Hot chocolate

Another source of acid is oral bacteria. When bacteria feed on sugars, they release acids that attack the enamel. Eventually, this can result in decay. But in the early stages, you can experience tooth sensitivity if you don’t remove plaque and tartar thoroughly and regularly.

Still another source of acid is stomach acid. Patients with acid reflux or bulimia often present with enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.

2. Gum Recession and Exposed Roots

Your roots aren’t covered in enamel like the crown portion of the tooth. Instead, the root is made up of porous dentin. The gums protect the roots.

Unfortunately, gum recession can lead to exposed roots and sensitivity.

Gum recession has two main causes:

• Gum disease: Bacteria in plaque and tartar – and the acids they release – irritate the delicate gum tissue. Over time, the tissue will recede away from the plaque/tartar on the teeth and below the gum line. Sadly, as the gums recede, the root surfaces are exposed, and sensitivity develops.
• Trauma: A common cause of gum recession is brushing your teeth too vigorously. Brushing too hard damages the soft tissue, causing it to recede.

3. Bruxism (Clenching and Grinding the Teeth)

Bruxism impacts approximately 30% of adults. Some aren’t even aware that they clench and grind their teeth. The only indicators are:

• Sore teeth
• Sore jaw muscles
• Chronic headaches
• Jaw popping/clicking noises

Clenching and grinding injure the teeth in two ways.

First, the force of clenching and grinding can, in essence, bruise the teeth. Second, constant bruxism can lead to enamel wear on the biting surfaces of the teeth, leading to sensitivity.

4. Cracked Tooth

Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) is a condition in which a tooth develops a crack that causes sensitivity. Patients with CTS experience sensitivity to:

• Hot
• Cold
• Sweet
• Bite pressure

A crack in the tooth exposes the tooth’s nerve to the outside world. Whenever you eat and drink, the nerve is irritated.

5. Deteriorating Dental Restorations

Old restorations break down over time due to acids in the mouth, bite force, and diseases like recurrent decay or gum disease. Fillings can crack, chip, or break, and similar to CTS, you’ll start to experience tooth sensitivity.

You can also develop sensitivity if you have decay around the margins of a crown or gum recession that exposes the root surfaces.

6. Nerve Damage or Infection

When a tooth’s pulp (or nerve) is damaged, inflamed, or infected, you’ll experience sensitivity. In some cases, you’ll experience a full-blown toothache.

Nerve damage is caused by:

• Trauma: Trauma takes many forms. You can traumatize the nerve if you hit your tooth or bite down on something hard. If you have CTS and don’t get treatment from your El Segundo dentist, the nerve can become irritated and eventually die.
• Decay: Deep dental decay travels from the enamel through the dentin to the nerve. Once this happens, you’ll develop an infection, and the nerve/tooth will eventually die.

7. Dental Procedures

Even when you do something good for a tooth, you can experience some temporary sensitivity. It isn’t uncommon for patients to experience some sensitivity to temperature and bite pressure after getting a filling or crown. Within a few days, the sensitivity will dissipate.

8. Over-the-Counter Dental Products

Many over-the-counter products labeled “natural” or “whitening” can harm your teeth. Some are incredibly abrasive, leading to gum recession and damaging the enamel. Whitening products contain chemicals that can weaken the teeth and lead to sensitivity.

It’s always best to talk to your El Segundo dentist about which whitening products and toothpaste are best for your needs.

Sensitivity Demystified: Contact Your El Segundo Dentist to Discover the Root Cause of Your Tooth Sensitivity

If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity, don’t suffer in silence. Seek assistance from your dentist right away.

Your El Segundo dentist has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to diagnose and treat the root cause of your sensitivity effectively.

Reach out to your dentist today and regain control of your dental health. Together, you can find solutions that will bring you comfort and relief!

Find relief from tooth sensitivity with help from El Segundo Modern Dentistry. We’ll help you get to the root cause of your sensitivity to get relief and protect your smile. Contact us at 424-277-2671 today!