Why teeth become sensitive to cold: Top 10 reasons
Have you ever experienced teeth sensitive to cold or hot? Whenever you drink something hot, or eat or drink something cold, you might have experienced this sensitivity. Well, you are not alone in this. According to a survey, around 35% people on earth experience sensitivity at least once in their lifetime.
What is teeth sensitivity?
Before we jump into the remedies for tooth sensitivity, let us first understand what sensitivity actually is and are our teeth sensitive to cold only?
Sensitivity can be described as a sharp pain like sensation in your teeth whenever your teeth are subject to temperature alterations. The sensation is not exactly pain but it feels as if something is pinching inside your teeth, similar to when an ant bites on your skin.
How teeth become sensitive to cold: The mechanism
Let us now understand how sensitivity actually happens. If someone knows what is the mechanism of sensitivity, they can effectively treat it by themselves, or even if they plan to visit a dentist, you will already know what treatment they want.
In the human body, there are around 7 trillion nerves! Each one of these nerves carries signals from one part of the body to another, the brain. And then there are some other nerves, which carry the message from the brain back to the part of the body from which it received the message previously.
The nerves in the human body are of many types. Let’s not jump into the types of nerves right away as it will become confusing from the point of view of a common person. For now just remember that one of the types of nerves carries the pain signal to the brain and back. Similar nerve types are present inside your teeth, in the pulp. When these nerves are triggered, we get the feeling of pain or sensitivity.
But how exactly are these nerves stimulated since they are enclosed in the pulp of the tooth? Whenever we use something hot or cold inside our mouth, then due to temperature changes, the pulp expands or contracts accordingly. This expansion or contraction moves the fluid inside the pulp. This movement triggers the nerve endings which ultimately lead to teeth being sensitive to cold or hot.
Teeth sensitive to cold only
Although both extremes of temperature, higher and lower triggers the nerve endings, it is the lower temperature which triggers it more. This is because pulp is very sensitive especially to lower temperatures. So, when we eat or drink something cold, nerves get triggered to a greater extent as compared to when we eat or drink something hot.
Why teeth become sensitive to cold: Top 10 reasons
Now that we have understood the mechanism of teeth sensitivity to cold, you might be wondering why is it that some people feel sensitivity and others don’t? Well, there are certain factors which come into play. Combining these reasons for teeth sensitivity to cold with the mechanism of action, you will understand why teeth become sensitive to cold or heat
Enamel erosion
Enamel is the protective layer on your teeth which protects them from external harmful stimuli. But our daily activities like acidic foods, beverages and poor oral hygiene disrupt this layer of enamel, which exposes the underlying dentin and sometimes pulp too! This ultimately leads to teeth sensitive to cold or hot.
Gum recession
If you look at your teeth inside your mouth, you will notice that below the teeth is something pink in color. This pinkish structure are the gums or gingiva. With time, these gums recede and expose the underlying root. The root portion is not covered with enamel because of which receding gums lead to teeth sensitive to cold or hot.
Tooth decay
Caries on your teeth lead to the enamel layer breaking down. This enamel break down again exposes the underlying dentin and pulp, leading to teeth sensitive to cold and hot.
Cracked teeth
Cracked teeth are those which have crack lines on them. Imagine a glass slab which has cracks on it, but is not yet broken. Now what would happen when you pour water on it? The water will start to fall down from the cracks.
The cracked teeth have cracks in the enamel layer. So, when something cold or hot is introduced in the mouth, if it is in liquid form, it flows from the cracks. Or, if it is in solid form, it causes the temperature of saliva to change and that saliva then flows down the cracks, triggering the nerves and leading to teeth sensitive to cold or hot temperatures.
Worn fillings
Many patients come with the complaint that they got their teeth and after that they are feeling sensitive. They start to blame the dentist whom they got feeling from right away.It is not always the dentist who is to be blamed. The filling might be as perfect as it could ever be, but if you are not taking care of your oral hygiene, there would be no benefit from that filling. And also there is a life of every filling. It starts to wear out after some time. This also can be the reason that teeth are sensitive to cold or heat. So make sure to pay a visit to your dentist every 6 months for routine check ups.
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Some people have a habit of grinding their teeth very often. Others do this when they feel nervous or anxious. Whatever the reason for this grinding (bruxism) is, it leads to the wear down of enamel. This enamel wear down will lead to teeth sensitive to cold and hot.
Post dental procedures
Teeth sensitivity can occur after some dental procedures like filling, scaling, teeth whitening, bleaching etc. But this sensitivity is short term, and the feeling should go away soon. If it doesn’t, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Gum disease
Just like gum recession, there are some gum diseases which cause gums to recede. These receding gums expose the roots, which are not covered by the protective layer of enamel. It then causes teeth sensitivity to cold or hot.
Aggressive brushing
It is advisable that you brush your teeth lightly. When you brush aggressively, you are actually doing more harm than good. By brushing vigorously, the enamel layer gets disturbed, leading to teeth sensitivity to cold or hot.
Acidic mouthwash
Just like acidic beverages, acidic mouthwash also harms the teeth in a similar way. They also cause slow wearing down of the protective layer of enamel. This is why you should only use the mouthwashes according to the prescriber’s instructions and should also always read the ingredients in that mouthwash so you may know if there is anything to which you are allergic or not.
Why Choose Dr. Arthur Yeh & Associates for Treatment of teeth sensitive to cold,in Montclair, NJ?
- Experienced Professionals: Our dental team comprises experienced professionals who have performed countless dental procedures in Montclair, NJ, with exceptional results.
- State-of-the-Art Equipment: We utilize the latest dental technology and equipment to ensure a safe and effective dental treatment.
- Personalized Care: Your comfort is our priority. We provide customized care plans to fulfill your unique needs, ensuring a stress-free experience.
- Convenient Location: Located in Montclair, NJ, our dental practice is easily accessible for residents seeking professional and reliable dental services.
