What Causes Tooth Sensitivity to Hot and Cold?

Tooth sensitivity, especially to hot or cold foods and liquids, is a common dental complaint. Sensitive teeth can cause minor discomfort to severe pain in your mouth that makes eating and drinking uncomfortable. Understanding the various causes of temperature-triggered tooth sensitivity can help you find the right solutions.

How Do Teeth Become Sensitive?

Your tooth's outer layer, the enamel, protects the sensitive dentin layer underneath. Enamel naturally wears down over time from chewing and eating, allowing irritants to reach the dentin and trigger nerve reactions that you feel as sensitivity.

Exposure of dentin from enamel loss is the main cause of tooth sensitivity. Hot and cold foods and liquids are common culprits that cause discomfort when they interact with exposed dentin surfaces in your mouth.

Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Gum Recession

Gums naturally recede or pull away from your teeth over time, often from gum disease or aggressive tooth brushing. This exposes sensitive root surfaces that have less protective enamel coating.

Tooth Grinding

Grinding or clenching your teeth, especially at night, gradually wears down enamel. This allows dentin exposure that leads to sensitivity to hot and cold.

Cracked/Chipped Teeth

Cracks or chips in your teeth from injury or chewing hard foods create openings to the dentin layer. Hot and cold can seep into these openings, triggering sensitivity.

Tooth Whitening Treatments

Certain tooth whitening products, especially those with peroxide concentrations over 10%, can temporarily damage enamel and expose dentin surfaces. This typically causes short-term sensitivity.

Plaque Buildup

Plaque that adheres to your teeth calcifies into tartar over time. Buildup near the gumline can lead to inflammation and recession, causing sensitivity.

Acidic Foods/Drinks

Frequent exposure to acidic foods and drinks like citrus, tomato sauces, wine, and soda can erode protective enamel over time. This allows dentin irritation from hot and cold.

Less Common Causes

While enamel loss is the most frequent cause of temperature-triggered tooth sensitivity, occasionally other factors come into play:

Dental Procedures

Procedures like tooth extractions and fillings can cause temporary sensitivity from trauma to the inner tooth tissue. Symptoms usually resolve once healing occurs.

Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess or infection at the root can put pressure on the inner dentin and pulp layers, causing severe pain triggered by hot and cold.

Mouth Injury

Chipping or cracking a tooth from facial injury, sports collisions, or bites onto hard foods expose the dentin and make teeth sensitive to temperature extremes.

Bruxism Mouth Guards

Ill-fitting night guards for tooth grinding can shift teeth and put pressure on surfaces, leading to sensitivity that is aggravated by hot or cold.

Sinusitis

Sinus inflammation or infections can refer pain to upper teeth that mimics temperature-induced sensitivity. Proper diagnosis is key.

Treatments for Temperature Sensitive Teeth

If your teeth are highly sensitive to hot or cold foods and drinks, talk to your dentist. Professional treatments can help resolve many cases of temperature triggered tooth discomfort.

Fluoride Treatments

Topical fluoride applied to sensitive areas can seep into pores in enamel and dentin, sealing open tubules. This helps insulate nerves from irritants.

Bonding and Fillings

Dental bonding resins and tooth-colored fillings can be used to cover exposed root surfaces or fill cracks contributing to sensitivity to block irritants.

Crowns

Dental crowns fully encase and protect teeth with significant enamel loss or cracks that cause severe temperature sensitivity.

Gum Grafts

Grafting surgery to regenerate gum tissue lost to recession can help cover exposed root surfaces that are hypersensitive to hot and cold.

Root Canal

If the inner pulp of your tooth is infected or inflamed from deep decay or injury, a root canal can remove the nerves and blood vessels triggering sensitivity.

At-Home Relief Options

For mild to moderate temperature triggered tooth sensitivity, you can try these home remedies in between dental visits:

Sensitive Toothpaste

Use a desensitizing toothpaste containing compounds like stannous fluoride, arginine, or potassium nitrate. These help block nerve pathway signals.

Over-the-Counter Gels

Rubbing gels with ingredients like propolis or potassium nitrate onto sensitive areas can temporarily reduce sensitivity to hot and cold.

Avoid Triggers

Stick to room temperature foods and drinks and avoid extreme hot or cold foods that you know will irritate sensitive teeth.

Improve Oral Hygiene

Gently brush twice daily and floss regularly to remove plaque that causes enamel erosion and gum recession leading to sensitivity.

Use a Soft Brush

Choose a soft or extra soft toothbrush and avoid aggressive scrubbing to prevent gum recession that exposes sensitive surfaces.

Avoid Whitening Products

Discontinue use of bleaching strips, whitening toothpastes, or other products that could be aggravating your sensitive teeth.

When To See Your Dentist

Make an appointment with your dentist right away if:

You experience severe, persistent sensitivity to hot and cold in one or more teeth
Sensitivity disrupts sleeping, eating, or drinking
You notice cracks, chips, or other damage in a sensitive tooth
Gum recession around sensitive teeth is detected
Home remedies and desensitizing products don't provide relief

Professional assessment is needed to determine the origin of sensitivity and provide effective treatment for symptom relief and oral health.

Preventing Tooth Sensitivity

Practice good daily dental care and see your dentist regularly to help prevent painful tooth sensitivity to temperature:

Maintain thorough but gentle oral hygiene
Use soft or extra-soft bristle toothbrushes
Avoid excessive enamel wearers like chewing ice or nails
Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
Rinse with water after acidic foods and drinks
Get professional cleanings every 6 months

Catching enamel issues early allows for treatments like fluoride or sealants to help prevent sensitivity. Report any symptoms to your dentist right away.

Enjoying Food Again

Tooth sensitivity can make eating, drinking, and oral hygiene painful. Get to the source of your temperature triggered discomfort for the best chance of resolving it. With professional treatment and daily prevention, you can enjoy all your favorite hot and cold foods again.

FAQs

Why are my teeth sensitive to cold but not hot?

Cold sensitivity usually indicates gum recession and exposed roots. Hot tends to penetrate enamel more readily first. See your dentist to assess gum health.

Can sinus problems cause tooth sensitivity?

Yes, sinus issues like infections and inflammation can sometimes radiate pain up to upper back teeth that mimics temperature sensitivity. See your dentist.

How long does tooth sensitivity last after whitening?

Tooth sensitivity after bleaching treatments is usually temporary, lasting from a few days up to a couple weeks as enamel rehardens.

What triggers sensitive tooth nerve pain?

Exposure of the inner dentin layer allows hot, cold, sweet, acidic foods and liquids to reach nerve fibers through tiny tubules, triggering sensitivity and pain signals.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.