Sensitivity is one of the most common reasons people book a dental appointment, and one of the most commonly self-treated. A sensitive toothpaste helps a lot of people, which is precisely why the underlying cause often goes unexamined for years.
Sensitivity is a symptom, not a diagnosis. What matters is which of several quite different problems is producing it.
Why teeth feel sensitive at all
Under the enamel sits dentine, which is not solid. It is threaded with microscopic tubules running from the outer surface toward the nerve. When those tubules are exposed and open, changes in temperature, pressure or sugar concentration move fluid inside them, and the nerve reads that movement as a sharp, short pain.
That explains the character of classic sensitivity: sudden, brief, triggered by something specific, and gone within seconds. Pain that behaves differently usually has a different cause, which is the useful clue.
The common causes
Receding gums and exposed roots
Root surfaces are covered in cementum, not enamel, and it is thin. Once the gum recedes past the enamel margin, the root is directly exposed. This is the most frequent cause of generalised sensitivity in adults, and it tends to affect the outer surfaces of canines and premolars first.
Brushing too hard, or with the wrong brush
Aggressive horizontal scrubbing with a firm brush wears a notch at the gum line and contributes to recession. A soft brush, held at forty-five degrees to the gum and moved in small circles, cleans as effectively with none of the damage. If you replace your brush and the bristles are splayed after a few weeks, you are pressing too hard.
Acid wear
Enamel dissolves below a pH of about 5.5. Frequent contact with citrus, soft drinks, sports drinks, sparkling water, wine or vinegar dressings thins it over time. Reflux does the same from the inside, and often shows as wear on the inner surfaces of the upper teeth. The timing matters as much as the quantity: sipping one soft drink across an afternoon is harder on enamel than drinking it in five minutes.
Grinding and clenching
Sustained load flexes the tooth at the neck and can chip away enamel there, as well as flattening the biting surfaces. Sensitivity from grinding is often worse in the morning. We cover this in more detail in teeth grinding, jaw pain and occlusal splints.
Decay, cracks and failing fillings
A single sensitive tooth, as opposed to a sensitive mouth, deserves attention. Decay, a crack, or a filling that has developed a leaking margin will all produce sensitivity, and all of them progress. Sensitivity to biting pressure rather than temperature is particularly suggestive of a crack.
After dental treatment
A new filling, a deep clean or a whitening treatment can all leave teeth sensitive for a period. This usually settles within days to a couple of weeks. Sensitivity that is worsening rather than fading is worth reporting.
What actually helps
- Desensitising toothpaste. Formulations containing potassium nitrate calm the nerve response; those containing stannous fluoride or arginine work by occluding the tubules. Use it consistently for at least two weeks before judging it, and try smearing a little onto the sensitive area with a fingertip at night without rinsing afterwards.
- Change your brushing technique. Soft bristles, light pressure, small movements. An electric brush with a pressure sensor is a practical way to retrain the habit.
- Manage acid exposure. Keep acidic drinks to mealtimes, use a straw, rinse with water afterwards, and wait at least half an hour before brushing so you are not brushing softened enamel.
- In-practice treatments. Fluoride varnish, sealing agents and bonded restorations over exposed root surfaces all address sensitivity directly. Which is appropriate depends on the cause.
- Treat the underlying problem. A crack, decay or a failing restoration will not respond to toothpaste. Repairing it is what resolves the sensitivity.
When to stop self-treating and book
Make an appointment if the sensitivity is confined to one tooth, if it lingers for more than thirty seconds after the trigger is removed, if it wakes you at night, if it is triggered by biting rather than temperature, or if it has not improved after a few weeks of a desensitising toothpaste. Lingering pain in particular suggests the pulp is inflamed, which changes the treatment required. Persistent pain that keeps you awake warrants an emergency appointment rather than waiting.
What treatment costs
Where sensitivity is caused by decay or a failing restoration, tooth-coloured fillings at our practice range from $209 to $450 depending on the size and surfaces involved. Where a tooth is too broken down for a filling, a porcelain crown starts from $1,800. Fissure seals range from $50 to $100. Current fees across all treatments are on our price list, and you can read more about fillings and restorations in Canberra.
Common questions
Is sensitive toothpaste safe to use long term?
Yes, these are ordinary fluoride toothpastes with an added active ingredient, and they are designed for daily use.
Why is only one tooth sensitive?
Localised sensitivity more often reflects a specific problem in that tooth, such as decay, a crack or a leaking filling, rather than generalised exposure of dentine. It is worth having examined.
Does whitening cause lasting sensitivity?
Sensitivity during and shortly after whitening is common and typically resolves within a few days. It is a transient effect rather than damage to the enamel.
Can receded gums grow back?
Gum tissue does not spontaneously regrow over an exposed root. The aim is to halt further recession and manage the exposed surface. Grafting is an option in some cases and would be discussed after an assessment.
Booking an appointment in Canberra City
Civic Gentle Dental Care is at Suite 8, Level 3/161 London Circuit, Canberra City, a short walk from the Canberra Centre. To arrange an appointment, call (02) 6247 0224 or send us a message through our contact page.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual dental advice. Whether a treatment is suitable for you, and what it will involve, can only be determined after an examination by a dentist. Any prices mentioned are estimates drawn from our current price guide and are not a quote.