Tooth Sensitivity

When I eat food, drink water or suck air through my teeth, I feel a sharp pain on my teeth. This pain lasts for a few minutes or can remain for a while. What could be happening?

Features:

• Brief, sharp, painful sensations in teeth during brushing, flossing, eating hot, cold, sweet, sour or acidic foods.

Causes:

• exposed dentine layer in the crown or root portion of the tooth
• dental decay
• fractured or chipped teeth
• vigorous tooth brushing, causing abrasion to tooth material near the gum line
• teeth grinding during sleep leading to fractures of tooth portions near the gum line (abfraction cavities)
• new fillings or crown and bridgework. Some sensitivity can be expected during the initial periods

Factors that increase your risk:

• receding gum due to gum disease
• vigorous tooth brushing
• excessive chewing of hard foods
• teeth grinding during sleep (nocturnal bruxism)

Causes:

• bulimia
• dry mouth, frequently resulting from radiotherapy to head and neck

Professional treatment options:

• application of chemical agents to affected areas
• restoring worn areas with filling materials
• crowning severely worn teeth