The article has been checked for accuracy (content includes links to reputable media sites, academic research institutions, and occasionally medical studies). All content on our website has been reviewed, however, if you believe our content is inaccurate, out of date or otherwise questionable, you may contact us to make the necessary corrections.
9 minutes
Tooth sensitivity is that intense pain that you feel in your teeth when you eat some very cold foods. We tell you more about this uncomfortable oral condition.
Having an ice cream or a drink with ice and feeling a prick in the tooth is one of the most uncomfortable sensations in the mouth. Cold foods often trigger this problem what we know as tooth sensitivity.
Fresh food and drinks, which should be enjoyed, can become real torture. The most common foods can give rise to that sharp and unexpected pain in the teeth.
The causes that cause hypersensitivity in the dental pieces are varied and here we will tell you about them. Read on and find out the relationship between cold foods and tooth sensitivity.
tooth sensitivity
Dental hypersensitivity is that Sharp, short-lived pain felt in the teeth by certain stimuli. Mechanical factors, such as brushing; chemicals, such as sweet or sour substances; or thermal, such as hot or cold foods, can trigger tooth sensitivity.
To understand how tooth sensitivity occurs, it is necessary to know how the dental elements are made. From outside to inside, the pieces are formed by the enamel in the crown and the cementum in the root, then the dentin and in the innermost part is the pulp.
Enamel is the hard tissue that covers and surrounds the dental crown, therefore, It is the area of the tooth that contacts the outside. It is very resistant and since it does not have nerve endings, it does not feel pain. Its main function is to protect the internal structures of the tooth.
Inside is the dentin. This hard structure is more porous than enamel. in its thickness contains multiple canaliculi that connect it with the pulp tissue.
In the innermost part of the tooth is the pulp. It is a region of soft tissue that contains blood vessels, nerves, and specialized dental cells. In this area This is where tooth pain starts.
In the tooth root zone, dentin is covered by a hard tissue called root cement. It, together with the periodontal fibers and the alveolar bone, is responsible for supporting and keeping the teeth in place. But it is covered by the gum, which protects it from the outside and also helps hold the teeth in place.
tooth sensitivity It appears when the tooth is not properly protected. This means that there is a loss of the enamel that covers it, or the gums are receding and there is root tissue in contact with the outside.
What happens to the teeth when we have tooth sensitivity?
As we already mentioned, dentin is a porous tissue that has microscopic channels that connect it to the pulp tissue. Being exposed due to the lack of protection of the enamel or the gums, external stimuli cause changes that translate as pain.
The contact of the dentinal tubules with mechanical, pressure, chemical or thermal stimuli generate movements in the fluid that they contain inside. These displacements and pressure changes stimulate the nerves of the pulp and tooth pain appears.
If, in addition, the pulp is undergoing an inflammatory process, this reaction is much more noticeable. exist studies which show that 30% of the adult population suffers from this type of problem. The incidence increases with age up to 40 years, being more frequent between 20 and 30 years.
As a person ages, the decrease in dental hypersensitivity could be due to changes sclerotic of the dentinal tubules. By reducing the diameter of these dentin canaliculi, the movement of dentin fluid is less.
Relationship of tooth sensitivity to cold foods
An exposed dentin is not prepared to come into contact with the pressures, friction, chemicals and temperature changes that occur in the mouth, especially when eating. Thus, eating cold foods can trigger tooth sensitivity.
Even low temperatures are one of the stimuli to which a damaged tooth reacts the most. The most common hypersensitivity is to cold. And the pieces that suffer the most are the canines and premolars.
Exposure of the dentin is responsible of this tooth sensitivity reaction to cold foods. This lack of protection of the teeth can be triggered by various reasons.
gum recession
The gums are inserted in the area where the crown and the root of the tooth meet to cover and protect the latter. But some situations can lead to gingival tissue migrating to a more apical area, exposing the root zone of the tooth.
A very traumatic tooth brushing, with very hard bristles or exerting too much pressure or force, can lead to the gum receding. Gingivitis and periodontal disease are also causes of this problem.
Even the reduction of the gum can arise as a consequence of certain periodontal treatments.
Dental caries
Dental caries is a pathology that can trigger tooth sensitivity when eating cold food. It’s about a destructive process of the hard tissues of the tooth. It occurs as a consequence of the action of the acids produced by the bacteria in the mouth when metabolizing the sugars in the diet.
The loss of minerals in the tooth leaves dentin exposed and can cause tooth sensitivity. Even this annoying symptom could appear in the early stages of decay and indicate that something is not right with that element of the tooth.
As the disease progresses untreated, the painful symptomatology will be more evident, prolonged and will arise before new stimuli.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a dysfunctional and involuntary oral habit. The muscles of mastication contract and the teeth make movements, they squeak and clench for no functional purpose.
Frequently squeezing and rubbing the teeth too intensely wears down the teeth. These areas where the teeth collide with each other again and again lose part of the dental tissue.
The enamel thins and areas of exposed dentin remain. This is how tooth sensitivity appears as a effect More of this disorder.
tooth erosion
tooth erosion is the loss of tooth structure as a result of a chemical process, without involving the bacteria of the mouth as it happens in cavities. There are several agents that can cause this mineral loss of the teeth.
Excessive use of some products can lead to loss of minerals in the enamel and the consequent appearance of tooth sensitivity. Using very abrasive toothpastes, consuming highly acidic foods such as citrus fruits or vinegars, can lead to dental demineralization.
The use of abrasive or acidic products to improve the appearance of the smile It is also a cause of this disorder. Home remedies and home whitening methods pose a high risk of sensitivity. And very repetitive professional procedures can also cause this problem.
pulpal inflammation
When a dental piece suffers certain damage, they can affect the dental pulp. Tooth decay, fractures, old leaking fillings, or exposure to irritants can inflame pulpal tissue. Also some dental treatments such as the preparation of cavities for repairs, the carving of teeth for crowns or, as we already mentioned, whitening.
If an inflammatory process is triggered inside the dental element, dental sensitivity when eating cold food is one of the first symptoms to appear. And it is an indication that the process is still reversible.
On the contrary, when the teeth present pain to hot stimuli that persist over time, the pulp process is considered irreversible. When you go to the dentist, you will most likely choose to perform a root canal.
Tooth sensitivity to cold foods can be prevented
Tooth sensitivity when eating cold food can be avoided. Taking care of the integrity of the teeth and the health of the gums is essential to prevent the teeth from suffering this intense pain.
Here are some simple practices that can help you prevent hypersensitivity in your teeth:
- Maintain adequate oral hygiene: brushing your teeth correctly and frequently prevents cavities and prevents gingival inflammation. It is important to take the time to perform this task gently and precisely so as not to damage the oral tissues.
- Use toothbrushes with soft bristles or extra soft: avoids traumatizing and wearing down the oral tissues.
- Choose low-abrasive toothpastes: that contain fluoride and do not wear the teeth.
- Using fluoride mouthwashes or for sensitive teeth.
- Floss once a day: perform the movements gently to clean the area between the teeth and avoid gingival inflammation.
- Consume acidic foods and beverages in moderation. sweet, carbonated and very hot or very cold.
- Visit the dentist regularly: to catch any problems early and keep your mouth healthy.
The importance of visiting the dentist
Frequent visits to the dentist allow us to keep the oral cavity healthy and prevent problems such as tooth sensitivity. And in the event that any condition appears, fix it quickly to avoid bothersome symptoms.
The ideal is to go to the dentist every 6 months or as often as the trusted professional suggests for each case. In any case, if at any time this annoying sensation that we talked about in the article appears, the ideal is to go to a specialist to evaluate the problem.
Suffering from tooth sensitivity when eating cold foods It is an indication that something in the mouth is not right. And a timely review can prevent further damage or complications in the future.
Worn teeth, swollen or receding gums, or advancing cavities are situations that need to be resolved as soon as possible. Acting in time not only avoids more annoying symptoms. But it also prevents the process from advancing and later more invasive, uncomfortable and expensive therapies are necessary.
You might be interested…