Causes of sensitive teeth

Sensitive teeth occur when ‘dentine’ is exposed. Once dentine is exposed, the nerve in the centre of the tooth becomes susceptible to triggers such as cold foods or drinks, and responds with a short sharp pain.

Dentine can become exposed through two main routes:
- Acid Erosion – acids in our everyday diet can soften the enamel coating of the teeth. This enamel is then susceptible to being worn away by brushing, which over time, can expose the dentine. Acidic foods and drinks include fruit juices, pickles and fizzy drinks (including diet drinks) such as cola.
- Gum recession – this can be caused by over-enthusiastic brushing or poor brushing. . The latter can cause a build up of plaque on the teeth, which can lead to gum disease and gum recession. When the gums recede, the sensitive dentine in the neck of the tooth can be exposed.
So what makes you cringe?
- Biting into ice cream?
- Jogging on a cold, windy morning?
- Drinking an icy-cold drink on a summer's day?
A quick and simple way you can test for signs of sensitivity is to take the Chill Test on this website.

So what makes you cringe?