What’s Causing Your Tooth Sensitivity?

When you experience tooth sensitivity or tooth pain near San Jose, you probably wonder what is causing that sensation. Thankfully, tooth pain and sensitivity does not always mean you have a cavity or need an emergency dentist. Sometimes, tooth sensitivity occurs after a recent dental treatment. Continue reading to learn more about the main causes for tooth sensitivity.

Worn Tooth Enamel

Your tooth enamel is what protects the inner layer of your teeth from decay and sensitivity to cold, hot, or sweets. If your tooth enamel has become worn—possibly due to brushing aggressively or using a hard-bristled toothbrush—then you are likely to feel some sensitivity.

Tooth Decay

If you have cavities, root canal infections, or some other form of tooth decay, then you will feel some tooth pain. The same happens when your dental fillings are weak, exposing the sensitive dentin underneath the tooth enamel. In rare cases, you may experience tooth sensitivity when a wisdom tooth is not coming in correctly and impacts one of your molars.

Gum Recession

Gum recession can be caused by a number of factors, but the most common cause is gum disease. Once gum disease has progressed passed gingivitis and into periodontitis, you will notice your gums have begun to recede from your teeth. As the gums recede, your tooth root may become exposed, which can cause significant tooth sensitivity and tooth pain.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, can cause tooth sensitivity for different reasons. If you grind your teeth, at night or during the day, you are slowly wearing down the tooth enamel from the crown of your teeth. Teeth grinding can also cause your gums to recede. As stated before, both of these conditions can cause tooth sensitivity.

Post Dental Treatment

Following a dental treatment or surgery, you may experience temporary tooth sensitivity. This type of tooth sensitivity should go away within a few days or weeks, once the tissues have healed.