Tooth Sensitivity 101: Why It Hurts Like Crazy

Your gums pull back and expose the surface underneath — called dentin. Normal wear and tear, for example, exposes enamel and exposes the dentin. This soft layer has thousands of tiny “tubes”, which lead straight to the tooth’s nerve centre. So when something cold hits the dentin, the nerves go into overdrive and register it as sensitivity.

When you have gum disease, your sore gums tend to pull back as well, thus revealing the roots of your teeth.

For serious cases, your dentist can provide treatments or information that minimize the causes. For example, they may apply a fluoride varnish that strengthens your weaker teeth.

But there are at-home remedies, too, like Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief. You know those “tubes” we talked about? Those are dentin tubules — and they hate Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, because it plugs and seals them, giving you relief from this irritating sensitivity.