15 Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity and Treatments to Help

Do you feel dental pain when eating or drinking anything hot, cold, sweet or sour? Does cold air cause your teeth to twinge? If so, you may be one of the many people suffering from sensitive teeth.

Tooth sensitivity is a sudden, sharp pain that shoots deep into the nerve endings of your teeth. While this sensation can be deeply unpleasant, the good news is that tooth sensitivity can be treated.

Keep reading to learn more about 15 common causes of tooth sensitivity and some possible treatment options.

1. Worn Tooth Enamel

Enamel is the hard, protective layer of your teeth — in fact, it's the hardest substance in your body. If you're dealing with tooth sensitivity, some of your enamel may have worn away. When enamel erodes, the underlying layer of your teeth (dentin) becomes exposed, leading to sensitivity and pain.

Treatment options

While you can't replace lost tooth enamel, you can restore the enamel you have left by staying hydrated, eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals, limiting acidic foods and beverages and maintaining good oral hygiene. To avoid removing enamel, wait about 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth — especially if you've eaten something acidic.

2. Gum Recession

When you have gum recession, your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, exposing parts that are usually concealed — including the roots, which don't have protective enamel. The roots also contain many tiny channels (tubules) that lead to the center of your tooth (the pulp). The tubules allow stimuli like hot and cold to reach the nerve in your tooth, resulting in sensitivity or pain.

Treatment options

If your gums are receding, it could be a sign of gum disease. In severe cases, you might need a gum graft, in which tissue is moved from elsewhere to cover the bare spot. Talk to your dentist to find the treatment option that's right for you. In the meantime, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid damaging the gums, and floss regularly to help prevent receding gums and tooth sensitivity.

3. Tooth Decay

Sometimes, sensitive teeth are an early sign of a cavity. When you have a cavity, the nerves in the center of your tooth become exposed. Decay eats through the protective enamel coating of the tooth, causing sensitivity or even pain.

Treatment options

If you have a cavity, you'll need to visit a dentist for treatment. To help prevent future decay, practice good oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly. You can also try using a sensitivity toothpaste to help protect sensitive teeth from cavities. Sensitivity toothpastes work by either blocking exposed dentinal tubules or desensitizing the nerve endings in the tubules.

4. Excessive Plaque Buildup

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that turns into tartar (hardened plaque) if you don't remove it regularly. Plaque or tartar buildup can cause the gums to recede due to localized inflammation and your body's immune response, allowing pockets to form around the tooth and increasing sensitivity.

Treatment options

Visit your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings, and maintain good oral hygiene every day. That includes brushing as well as flossing, which can prevent plaque buildup.

5. Gum Disease

If plaque or tartar builds up on your teeth and your gums recede, gum disease can set in, destroying the bony support of the tooth. This exposes the root surface that leads directly to the nerve of the tooth, causing sensitivity. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies can also lead to gum disease.

Treatment options

Your dentist may need to do a scaling and root planing procedure — a deep cleaning that involves removing plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. You may also need surgery to treat gum disease. In the meantime, be sure to get enough vitamins and minerals to support your oral health, including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, iron and zinc.

6. Abrasion from Brushing Too Hard

In your quest for plaque removal, you may be overzealous in your toothbrushing technique. Keep in mind that side-to-side brushing at the gumline is a recipe for enamel removal. And by brushing too vigorously or using a hard-bristled toothbrush, you can wear down that protective enamel and cause your gums to recede — common causes of tooth sensitivity.

Treatment options

Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush for less abrasion to the teeth and less irritation to the gums. Use small, circular movements, brushing at a 45-degree angle to the gums to keep your enamel healthy and strong. And be sure to change your toothbrush every two to three months, or sooner if you see signs of wear. Electric toothbrushes are a very useful tooth as well.

7. Teeth Grinding or Clenching

Over time, grinding or clenching your teeth can wear away protective enamel, exposing underlying dentin and causing sensitivity and pain. Even biting your nails and opening packages with your teeth can cause damage and sensitivity.

Treatment options

If you're a serial grinder or bruxer, you may benefit from stress management techniques. Your dentist can also fit you for a mouth guard to keep dental erosion to a minimum. In more severe cases, your dentist may prescribe a muscle relaxant or recommend dental work to change the position of your teeth.

8. Mouthwash

You want to keep your mouth minty fresh, but your mouthwash might be doing more harm than good. That's because some mouthwashes contain acids that can damage the dentin, particularly if it's already exposed. Swigging mouthwash can make sensitive teeth even more sensitive.

Treatment options

First, try rinsing with mouthwash just once or twice a day. If that doesn't help, ask your dentist about a neutral fluoride rinse or a mouthwash that decreases sensitivity, and which mouthwash ingredients you should avoid.

9. Tooth Whitening Products

You may want a brighter smile, but teeth whiteners open the pores in your enamel, temporarily exposing the dentin and causing sensitivity. Whitening toothpastes can also be very abrasive, eroding the enamel. The same goes for charcoal toothpaste, which may damage your teeth and increase sensitivity.

Treatment options

Sensitivity from whitening usually goes away once you stop using the products. Check with your dentist for better options, such as professional tooth whitening systems, which don't harm enamel.

10. Dental Procedures

If you recently had a filling, crown, root canal or other dental procedure, you may experience short-term tooth sensitivity. Also, if a filling is too high and keeps your teeth from fitting together properly, you may experience sensitivity when biting down.

Treatment options

Sensitivity caused by dental work usually goes away on its own in a few weeks. If your sensitivity is caused by a filling that's too high, your dentist may need to smooth it down. But if your sensitivity lingers, talk to your dentist about treatment for other possible issues, such as worn enamel or exposed tooth roots.

11. Exposed Root Due to Trauma or Gum Disease

The roots of your teeth sit below the gumline and contain nerves and sensitive tissue. A sudden injury, such as a blow to the face, may cause a tooth to shift and the root to become exposed. A tooth root may also become exposed gradually as a result of untreated tooth decay or gum disease. Whatever the cause, an exposed tooth root can cause intense sensitivity and pain.

Treatment options

If you have an exposed tooth root, see a dentist as soon as possible. Trauma to the face may require emergency treatment to the tooth and jaw. Tooth decay may necessitate a filling, root canal, crown or extraction, depending on the severity. Other dental procedures that can help reduce sensitivity include dental bonding, dental sealants or fluoride varnishes applied to exposed root surfaces.

12. Cracked Tooth

Whether it's from chewing on ice, biting into hard candies, getting large dental fillings or another cause, cracked or fractured teeth can be very sensitive and painful. Once the tooth is broken, the pulp inside can become irritated when chewing. Cracked teeth can also fill with bacteria, causing infection.

Treatment options

A cracked tooth must be treated by a dentist. A small crack that ends before your gums start can be fixed with a filling. But if your tooth is cracked below the gumline, it will need to be pulled. Immediate evaluation and treatment are suggested in a case like this.

13. Orthodontic Treatment

If you've ever had braces, you're likely part of the 95% of patients who experience tooth sensitivity, discomfort or pain during orthodontic treatment. This is caused by the pressure placed on the teeth by braces. Braces can also make you more prone to plaque buildup and sensitivity, which result from debris getting trapped between your teeth and braces.

Treatment options

Sensitivity caused by orthodontic adjustments typically only lasts a few days and may be alleviated with medications like ibuprofen. You can also fight plaque buildup and reduce sensitivity while you have braces by brushing and flossing well, and using a sensitivity toothpaste. For any continued sensitivity go see your orthodontist to eliminate any other causes.

14. Hormonal Changes

Many women experience increased tooth sensitivity during pregnancy and menopause. This is typically due to hormone-related changes in blood flow and saliva levels, which can lead to a buildup of bacteria in the mouth. Hormonal fluctuations can also increase inflammation in the gums.

Treatment options

During pregnancy, menopause and other hormonal changes, a commitment to consistent at-home oral health care is essential. It's also important to visit the dentist at least twice a year for cleanings and exams. Your dentist might recommend a toothpaste with additional fluoride, medications to combat dry mouth or an antimicrobial mouth rinse.

15. Age-Related Enamel Loss and Gum Recession

Tooth sensitivity is common among older adults, as dental wear and tear is a natural part of aging. Also, as we get older, our gum tissue can shrink, exposing more of the tooth and leading to sensitivity and decay.

Treatment options

Regular dental checkups are an important way to minimize age-related enamel loss and gum recession, allowing your dentist to detect and treat problems early on. In some cases, you may need fillings, crowns or veneers to repair teeth that have been damaged by wear and tear, or a gum graft to restore gum tissue.

Dental Financing With the CareCredit Credit Card

Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures and other costs that insurance doesn't cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Expert Reviewer

Dr. Jorge Oaxaca, D.D.S.

Dr. Jorge Oaxaca is a partner and owner of Oaxaca, Ong & Jensen Seal Beach DDS in Seal Beach, California. He has a holistic approach to dentistry and a passion for technology, which has led him to practice progressive, cutting-edge computerized dentistry in his office to better serve his patients.

Author Bio

Robyn Tellefsen is a freelance writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, finance and more. Her work has appeared on sites such as LoopNet, Beachside Rehab, First Horizon Bank, SoFi, A Place for Mom, American Express, Chase and more.