Pain sensitive teeth - causes & diseases

April 28, 2022

Many people often complain about sensitive teeth. The simplest stimulus is enough to produce a flash of pain. Not infrequently, these symptoms are associated with great discomfort and bring with them a high level of suffering for the people affected. Today we will talk about the causes and solutions for pain-sensitive teeth.

Causes of sensitive teeth

Pain-sensitive teeth are also referred to as dentine hypersensitivity in the dental field and are not uncommon. Contrary to widespread assumptions, a dental disease is rarely the cause, but often an external stimulus. Generally speaking, many chemical or mechanical stimuli can affect the teeth. In more detail, these stimuli have the potential to trigger pain-sensitive teeth:

• Hot or cold (e.g. ice cream or a hot soup)
• Trick or treat (e.g. candy or a lemon)
• acidic drinks (e.g. acidic fruit juices)
• more rarely also cold drafts
• less often also salty foods (e.g. pretzel sticks)

Teeth consist largely of dentin, the most important structural substance. Dentin extends from the root tip to the crown and provides structure, color and stability. Inside the body of the tooth there is a free space called the pulpa. Within this space are the smallest nerves and vessels that supply the tooth with important nutrients. In order for these nutrients to reach the outer layers of dentin, the tooth is criss-crossed with small canals, the dentin tubules.

If the gums recede, then the neck of the tooth is exposed. The tooth neck is the transition area between tooth crown and tooth root. This area is particularly poor in protective enamel. This in turn ensures that the small canals are free and can thus make direct contact with the outside world. The tooth then reacts to the above stimuli with pain.

Possible diseases caused by pain-sensitive teeth

Receding gums are therefore the central cause of pain-sensitive teeth. But what are the actual causes of receding gums?
The following diseases of the gums, among others, can cause a decline:

• periodontitis – inflammation of the periodontium caused by bacteria and poor oral hygiene. The gums are often red and swollen.
• periodontal recession – describes an inflammation-free gum recession. Causes can usually be found in natural aging processes through to the wrong tooth brushing technique.
• incorrect tooth brushing technique – here a close consultation with the dentist is necessary. In most cases, however, you should brush “from red to white” and use soft toothbrushes.

These diseases of the gums do not appear overnight. They usually form over time. Because of this, it can be difficult to recognize the symptoms. You should see a dentist urgently if your gums bleed more, recede significantly over time, or if your teeth are starting to loosen.

At OnlySmile, we advise against bleaching if you have sensitive teeth.

Photo: © Onlysmile, Dean Drobot - shutterstock.com
Author: Johann (blogguru.de)

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