Sensitive Teeth
Cold drinks shouldn’t make you wince. Let’s find out why they do.
You’ve tried sensitive toothpaste but cold drinks still hurt. Or one tooth has suddenly started giving you trouble. You want to know why and what will stop it.
At Smileworks Liverpool we’ll check the cause of your tooth sensitivity and explain your options. You don’t need to choose a treatment before booking. Tell us what hurts and we’ll help you book the right appointment.
What can I do for sensitive teeth now?
A fluoride toothpaste for sensitive teeth is worth trying for a mild twinge that passes quickly. Use it as directed. Keep brushing gently with a soft toothbrush. If cold tap water hurts you can use lukewarm water instead. Avoid whatever sets the pain off while you arrange advice.
Brush twice a day for about two minutes. Spit without rinsing straight away. This leaves fluoride on your teeth. Mouthwash immediately after brushing washes it away too.
Desensitising toothpaste usually needs repeated use. It won’t mend a crack or broken filling. New pain needs checking if it affects one tooth or keeps coming back. Don’t wait for toothpaste to work if things are getting worse.
When should I see a dentist?
Book an assessment if you’re avoiding food or drinks because they hurt. You should also come in if home care hasn’t helped or you don’t know what’s causing it. A brief twinge can still come from decay or a damaged filling.
Call promptly if pain lingers after a hot or cold drink. Pain that starts without a trigger or wakes you at night also needs checking. So does pain when you bite. Tell us about swelling or fever and any bad taste.
For severe dental pain or swelling call 0151 236 5166 about an urgent appointment. Contact NHS 111 if you cannot access a dentist.
Go to A&E if swelling affects your eye or neck. Call 999 if swelling makes breathing or swallowing difficult or affects your speech.
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What causes sensitive teeth?
Exposed dentine and receding gums
Enamel protects the visible part of your tooth. Beneath it is dentine containing microscopic channels called dentinal tubules. When dentine is exposed these channels allow triggers such as cold to stimulate tissues inside your tooth. The resulting sharp pain is called dentine hypersensitivity.
Receding gums can expose your root surfaces. This is called gum recession. Your roots lack the enamel covering that protects the crown of your tooth. You may notice pain when brushing near the gumline or drinking.
Enamel wear, acid erosion and brushing too hard
Tooth wear can expose dentine. Acidic foods and drinks contribute to dental erosion. Brushing too hard can wear vulnerable surfaces. Teeth grinding can cause wear and damage too. Its clinical name is bruxism.
That’s why we ask about your toothbrush and what you drink through the day. Tell us if you grind or clench your teeth too. These details help us work out what needs to change.
A cavity, crack or failing tooth filling
Tooth decay can cause sensitivity. So can a cracked tooth or a loose or broken filling. Tell us about pain when chewing even if it comes and goes.
We’ll examine the tooth and check any existing restorations. A filling that needs repairing won’t be fixed by changing your toothpaste. Read more about tooth fillings.
Gum problems or recent dental treatment
Gum disease can contribute to recession and exposed roots. Sensitivity can also follow a filling or teeth whitening. Deeper gum cleaning can cause it too.
Tell us about recent treatment and whether the pain is settling or getting worse.
How do we work out what’s causing it?
Start with what you’ve noticed. Perhaps cold water hurts one tooth but hot tea is fine. Perhaps sweet foods set it off. We’ll want to know whether the pain stops straight away or stays after the drink or food has gone.
We’ll look for exposed roots and decay as well as wear or cracks. We’ll check your fillings too. Depending on your symptoms we may test your bite or how the tooth responds to cold. Gently tapping the tooth or taking an X-ray can give us more information.
No single test tells the whole story. An X-ray cannot explain every painful tooth and a strong reaction to cold doesn’t automatically mean you need root canal treatment.
If we still don’t know the cause we’ll explain what else needs checking. Sometimes that means a referral. We need a sound reason before recommending irreversible treatment.
How do you treat sensitive teeth?
We might recommend protecting an exposed surface. We might find a tooth that needs repairing. Here’s how the cause changes the treatment.
| What we find | What may help |
|---|---|
| Exposed dentine without decay or a crack | Gentler brushing and desensitising toothpaste. A professionally applied fluoride or desensitising treatment may help. |
| A worn area near your gumline | A protective coating or small bonded filling if suitable. |
| Decay, a damaged filling or a cracked tooth | A repair or restoration suited to the damage. |
| Gum disease | Gum treatment and advice on caring for exposed roots. |
| Grinding-related wear or damage | Assessment and a protective night guard if suitable. |
| A problem with the pulp inside your tooth | Further assessment and treatment based on the diagnosis. |
We’ll explain what improvement to expect. If it doesn’t happen we need to review the diagnosis and treatment.
Healthy gums and ongoing care
Our dental therapists, hygienists and dentists work together. Your hygiene appointments help you maintain gum health. Pain that suggests a problem inside a tooth needs a dentist to investigate.
We’ll show you how to clean sensitive areas and choose suitable brushes. Read about gum disease treatment or hygiene appointments.
Problems inside the tooth and around the root
The pulp inside your tooth contains nerves and blood vessels. Inflammation here is called pulpitis. You may hear it described as a “hot nerve”.
Root canal treatment is also called endodontic treatment. It removes inflamed or infected pulp. We then clean the canals before filling and sealing them. The tooth root normally stays in place. A sensitive exposed root surface is a different problem from an infected pulp.
Read about root canal treatment if your dentist has recommended it.
How much does sensitive teeth treatment cost?
There’s no single price for sensitivity. A protective coating and a replacement filling are different treatments.
Ask us about the assessment fee when you book. Once we’ve checked your teeth we’ll explain what we recommend and what it costs. You can then decide. See our dental prices.
Your questions about sensitive teeth
Why are my teeth so sensitive all of a sudden?
A filling may be damaged or a root surface newly exposed. Decay and recent dental treatment can also cause sensitivity. We need to examine you to find out. Book a check for a sudden change rather than assuming it’s harmless. This is especially important when just one tooth hurts.
Why are my teeth sensitive to cold but not hot?
Cold can trigger exposed dentine. It can also reveal decay or a filling problem. What matters is how your tooth reacts and how long the pain lasts. Tell us what happens. The fact that hot drinks don’t hurt isn’t enough to rule out a problem.
What is the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth?
Look for a fluoride toothpaste made for sensitive teeth and use it as directed. NHS advice for adults is at least 1,350ppm fluoride. There’s no brand that works for everyone. Bring your tube or a photo of it when you come in. That tells us more than the brand name alone.
I’ve tried Sensodyne and it still hurts. What next?
Come in and let us check. We’ll ask how long you’ve used it and look at how you brush. More importantly we’ll check whether the pain is something toothpaste can treat. Don’t keep trying different tubes if the pain gets worse or affects one tooth. Dental pain can have another cause.
Can you stop sensitive teeth pain immediately?
Avoiding cold or other triggers may stop a brief twinge. Getting lasting relief means treating the cause. A surface treatment may help exposed dentine but won’t fix every painful tooth. We can’t promise instant relief before examining you. Severe or ongoing pain needs dental advice.
Is sensitivity normal after a filling?
Some sensitivity can happen after a filling. What we want to know is whether it’s settling. Call the practice that treated you if pain gets worse or lingers. Pain when biting or a change in how your teeth meet also needs checking. We can examine the restoration and test the tooth’s response.
Why are my teeth sensitive after a scale and polish?
This can happen after a scale and polish or deeper gum treatment. As inflamed gums heal you may notice exposed root surfaces more. Tell your clinician where it hurts so they can advise you. Don’t put up with severe or persistent pain because you assume it’s normal.
Can I whiten my teeth if they’re already sensitive?
Speak to us first. Whitening can cause temporary sensitivity so we need to check existing pain. Contact your treating dentist if sensitivity develops during whitening. They can advise whether to adjust or pause treatment. Don’t increase the gel to finish faster.
My dentist says there’s no cavity. Why does it still hurt?
No cavity doesn’t mean no cause. We may need to look for exposed dentine or a crack. Gum changes and other sources of pain may need investigation too. Tell us if it still hurts. A normal-looking tooth or X-ray doesn’t mean you’re imagining it.
Let’s make eating, drinking and brushing easier
You shouldn’t have to plan every drink around a painful tooth. Tell us what’s happening and we’ll help you take the next step.
Smileworks Liverpool · 1a Kenyons Steps, Liverpool ONE, L1 3DF.