Do you have frequent, spine-tingling sensations whenever any hot or cold food or drinks come in contact with your teeth? If yes, then you must be suffering from tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity, or dental hypersensitivity is a condition marked by the irksome and sudden reaction of our teeth to hot and cold substances, but not limited to sweet and sour flavors. The sensation gained from tooth sensitivity only lasts for a split second. If the pain last for more than two seconds or happens in random intervals – without the need for stimuli—then it is not tooth sensitivity.

To better understand what tooth sensitivity is, let look at the anatomy of the tooth: the innermost part, the pulp, contains all the nerves and blood vessels that keep our tooth alive; the dentin is the second innermost part that encapsulates the pulp—it is also the suspect behind tooth sensitivity.

Dentin, the underlying portion just after the enamel and crown of the tooth has a massive count of nerve endings, when exposed to extremely hot and cold stimuli, and sweet and sour tastes, will automatically trigger a sudden impulse that make us feel a split-second, sharp pain.

Tooth abrasion is one of the foremost causes of dentin exposure. People who unscrupulously brush their teeth often damage the crown and enamel of teeth to a point that both the layers wear off, paving the way for dentin to be exposed.

Not only that, excessive and forced brushing of the teeth (accompanied by hard bristles on a toothbrush), will in time, cause gum recession, which exposes root dentin, a more sensitive part of the tooth.

The prevalence of tooth sensitivity is high on young adults, because this age group tends to be the most voracious eaters and ironically, the most hygiene-abusive to the point that they excessively brush their teeth based on the myth that brushing more leads to white teeth.

People who also have cracked teeth develop tooth sensitivity in a short period of time—more so if the sills and dents remain unattended. Oftentimes, people wonder where the sensitivity is coming from, given the fact that they have no major cracks on their teeth. Mind you, the most acute dental sensitivity comes from overlooked areas like small chipped portions on the tip of our teeth, especially canines and cuspids.

People should also stay away from foods and drinks that have high levels of citrus and other acidic foods. Too much vitamin C on the teeth can cause tooth abrasion, which develops into tooth sensitivity.

Other dental treatments may also induce temporary sensitivity: extractions, cleaning, whitening, crown replacements, inlays, onlays and more often, fillings leave residues or may create small gaps that may stimulate the dentin, but the acute sensations from these treatments usually subside in a few weeks.

To avoid getting and prevent the onset of sensitive teeth, one should always practice a thorough, but not overworked oral hygiene to strengthen the crown of the teeth. This includes using fluoride toothpaste, a soft-bristled toothbrush and dental floss. On the other hand, if one already has sensitive teeth, he/she should switch to sensitive toothpastes—that have either of the active ingredients, potassium nitrate and strontium chloride—that effectively minimize the sensitivity or totally desensitize the teeth.

Also be aware of your food and fluid intake. As mentioned above, too much vitamin C may damage the teeth. Make sure that you don’t alternately drink hot drinks and eat cold food (and vice versa) during meals, as this habit may eventually crack the teeth.

If you feel that desensitizing toothpastes are not doing the job in ridding you of sensitive teeth, then you must go see the dentist and ask for a thorough check-up of your teeth.

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