This is general patient information, not a diagnosis. Persistent or worsening pain should be examined.
Quick Answer
Tooth sensitivity is a short, sharp pain triggered by cold, hot, sweet or acidic food and drink, or by cold air or brushing. The most common cause is exposed dentine, the layer under the enamel, which contains tiny tubules leading towards the nerve. Dentine becomes exposed when gums recede or enamel wears away through acid erosion, abrasive brushing or grinding. Sensitivity also commonly follows whitening and new fillings and usually settles. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth used twice daily, spitting rather than rinsing, often helps within a few weeks. Pain that lingers after the trigger has gone, pain that wakes you, or pain on biting suggests something else, such as decay, a cracked tooth or an inflamed nerve, and needs examination.
Key Takeaways
- Most sensitivity comes from exposed dentine, through gum recession or enamel wear.
- A sensitivity toothpaste, used consistently, helps many people. It takes time to work.
- Brush gently with a soft brush. Hard scrubbing wears enamel and gums.
- Acidic food and drink soften enamel. Do not brush straight after them.
- Lingering pain, night pain or pain on biting is not ordinary sensitivity. Have it checked.
Common Causes
- Gum recession, exposing the root surface, which has no enamel. See receding gums.
- Enamel erosion from acidic drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks or reflux.
- Brushing too hard, or with a hard brush, wearing enamel near the gumline.
- Grinding or clenching, wearing the biting surfaces. See teeth grinding.
- After whitening, which commonly causes temporary sensitivity. See teeth whitening.
- After a new filling or crown, usually settling over days to weeks.
- Decay or a leaking filling, which needs treatment.
- A cracked tooth, especially if biting also hurts. See cracked tooth.
Ordinary Sensitivity or Something Else?
| Pattern | More likely to be | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp, brief pain with cold or sweet, gone within seconds | Exposed dentine | Sensitivity toothpaste, gentle brushing; mention it at your check-up |
| Several teeth along the gumline | Recession or abrasion | As above, and ask about the cause |
| One tooth, sharp pain when biting or releasing | Cracked tooth | Have it examined |
| Pain that lingers for minutes after the cold has gone | Inflamed nerve | Have it examined promptly |
| Throbbing pain, pain that wakes you, or swelling | Possible infection | Seek dental care promptly; urgent care for facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing |
This table is a guide, not a diagnosis.
What You Can Do at Home
- Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth twice a day. Spit, do not rinse, so the active ingredient stays on the teeth. Some people rub a little onto the sensitive area before bed.
- Give it time. Many products take two to four weeks to make a noticeable difference.
- Use a soft brush and gentle pressure. An electric brush with a pressure sensor can help.
- Reduce acid exposure. Keep acidic drinks to mealtimes, use a straw, rinse with water afterwards and wait before brushing.
- Use fluoride. Fluoride strengthens enamel. See fluoride guidance for how it works.
What a Dentist Can Do
- Find and treat the cause, such as decay, a leaking filling or a crack
- Apply a desensitising agent or high-strength fluoride varnish to exposed areas
- Seal or bond exposed root surfaces or worn areas with tooth-coloured material
- Advise on grinding and fit a night guard where appropriate
- For significant gum recession, discuss whether gum treatment would help
- Very rarely, where pain persists and the nerve is affected, root canal treatment
Conclusion
Sensitive teeth are common and usually manageable, but they are a symptom, not a diagnosis. If sensitivity toothpaste and gentler habits do not help within a few weeks, or the pain pattern looks like anything other than a brief twinge, have the tooth examined.
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