There you are, enjoying your morning coffee, when a sudden jolt of pain comes from one of your teeth. As unpleasant, painful and disruptive to your morning routine as it is, a tooth sensitive to hot food or drink can be more than a minor inconvenience. A change in the way your teeth react to hot and cold often means there's a much more advanced problem happening in your mouth. And identifying the cause of this sudden pain can go a long way to treating the issue so you can go back to your morning meal.
- Receding gums. The National Health Portal of India explains that a build-up of plaque or tartar can cause the gum to recede down the tooth and even destroy the bony support of the tooth. Due to receded gums, the roots of the teeth get exposed and become more sensitive. Pockets can form in the gums around the tooth, making the area difficult to keep clean and the problem worsen.
Regardless of the cause, a tooth sensitive to hot or cold is always a symptom of a broader oral health issue, which means it can be treated with behavioural changes for a pain-free day. Consider the following treatment options with the help of your dentist:
What You Can Do
According to the Indian Dental Association, there are many brands of toothpaste made to help ease the pain of sensitive teeth. Toothpastes containing Potassium Nitrate may provide relief from sensitivity by desensitising nerves. This can effectively block your sensitivity triggers and help strengthen tooth enamel to banish pain from these types of food. Sensitivity toothpastes can be purchased over the counter, but it is still a good idea to discuss the condition with your dentist.
When You'll Need Office Treatment
If sensitivity is the result of a cavity, loose filling or exposed nerves, you'll need dental treatment to get rid of it. Therefore, your dentist may need to fill a cavity, replace an existing filling or apply a crown over the exposed nerves for the irritation to subside. He or she can also use bonding materials to fix cracked teeth from a physical incident – which may have caused tooth damage you weren't aware of.