It's been cold out there! For many that can result in tooth pain from the simple act of breathing in that cold air. Other things causing cold sensitivity may be simple things like ice cream, a cold beer or even a glass of water. Why?
First, let's consider the causes of tooth sensitivity:
- grinding - can cause excessive tooth wear that actually wears through the enamel of the tooth exposing the inner layer (dentin).
- gum recession - exposed roots can result from excessive scrubbing when you brush (don't be too aggressive, you you only need light pressure when you brush. Clenching/grinding can also cause gum recession - think about a post in the ground, if you put a lot of pressure on it the soil falls away from one side and becomes more dense on the other. The same thing happens when you clench the bone reshapes and the gum tissue follows.
- erosion - acid erosion is the result of slowly dissolving the enamel of the tooth with acidic beverages like carbonated drinks or wine, or foods with vinegar like pickles or dressings. Gastric problems like gastric reflux can also result in an overly acid environment that can lead to erosion. It's a common problem for pregnant women with severe morning sickness, and for those with bulimia & anorexia.
- broken or chipped teeth - again grinding can be a cause. Another frequent cause are bad habits, like chewing on ice or other hard objects like pens, straight pins and the like. All to often we also tend to use our teeth as tools - teeth are not tools - a broken or cracked tooth can allow the cold air or liquid to access the nerve tubules of the tooth
- decay - can also result in the interior portion of the tooth being exposed