What does this mean?
Enamel carries no nerves. For sensitivity to be felt, cold has to reach the dentine beneath it. Dentine is made of microscopic fluid-filled tubules; when the temperature changes that fluid moves, and the movement becomes a signal at the nerve ending.
Duration is what separates them. A sharp pain that fades within seconds of removing the trigger is dentine sensitivity. Pain lasting minutes, worse with heat and briefly eased by cold, points to an inflamed pulp and needs different treatment.
The same sensitivity can arise three ways: exposed dentine, enamel breached by decay, or a receding gum.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Use a potassium nitrate sensitivity toothpaste consistently; it takes a few weeks to settle in
- Wait 30 minutes to brush after something acidic; softened enamel wears more easily
- Soft brush, light pressure; hard brushing increases sensitivity rather than reducing it
- Pain that lasts minutes after the trigger is removed
- Pain that begins on its own and worsens at night
- Pain clearly worse with heat and briefly relieved by cold
- Sensitivity concentrating on one tooth and steadily increasing
Frequently asked questions
- How long does sensitivity toothpaste take to work?
- Usually two to four weeks with consistent use. The effect fades if you stop, so continuity matters.
- Does sensitivity always mean decay?
- No. The most common cause is root surface exposed by gum recession. But sensitivity concentrated on one tooth should be assessed for decay or a crack.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.