Do you find yourself wincing when sipping your morning cappuccino or enjoying your favorite ice cream? Ever experienced that annoying sharp, temporary pain when flossing or brushing? This is one of the most common complaints we get from our patients. Sometimes the pain is just too much to bear that our patients admit to skipping their regular brushing and flossing!
So why does your tooth or teeth feel sensitive? The best way to answer this question is to start with looking at a healthy tooth.
A healthy tooth has an outer layer of enamel that protects all structures of the tooth’s crown, which is everything you see above the gums. Below the gum line, a similar outer layer called cementum, protects the tooth’s root. When the enamel or cementum layer of a tooth is compromised, the tooth is left unprotected. Without this protective layer, hot and cold sensation from food or drinks, as well as acidic foods are able to penetrate through the tooth, and straight to the nerves where we experience that familiar sharp, uncomfortable pain, or sensitive teeth sensation.
So when a tooth feels sensitive, we now know that a breakdown of the tooth’s enamel has most likely occurred. Enamel loss can happen in a few ways and the most common is called toothbrush abrasion. Toothbrush abrasion is a result of brushing too hard and applying too much pressure to your teeth and ultimately wearing away the enamel layer. In addition, brushing with a medium or hard toothbrush will also cause enamel loss due to the abrasiveness of the bristles. Another consequence of enamel loss from improper brushing is recession of the gums. Receding gums expose root structure to the abrasive actions of a toothbrush and eventually that outer cementum is worn away. When cementum is worn away, the tooth is subject to any sort of sensitivity. A gentle, circular motion at the gum line with the softest toothbrush is the proper way of removing plaque from our teeth. Another reason for sensitive teeth is untreated decay. Decay breaks down the enamel of the tooth and causes a “hole” in the enamel and hence sensitivity to temperatures.
Brushing and flossing, if done correctly, will reduce plaque buildup and promote healthy gums and teeth, which ultimately preserves the tooth’s precious enamel layer. Remember, brushing too hard can also wear down your gums and enamel.
If you’re experiencing uncomfortable pain or sharp sensations when brushing and flossing, or when eating and drinking hot or cold foods, give our office a call and consult with our doctor. There may be presence of decay, enamel loss or gum recession.
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Written by Dr. Kim H. Nguyen
Owner of Mint Dental OC and is a leading dentist in Southern California.
