Understanding Sensitivity: Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth

Why Do My Teeth Hurt?

A swig of frosty beer. A spoonful of hot soup. If you have sensitive teeth, everyday foods and drinks can unexpectedly trigger a jolt of nerve pain, fast. That tooth pain you feel is typically characterized as short and sharp, and it can also range in severity.

Tooth sensitivity can occur in specific areas of your mouth, sometimes in just 1 tooth—you don’t have to feel pain in every tooth to have sensitive teeth.

Signs of Sensitive Teeth

Sensitivity to cold

Sensitivity to hot

Teeth sensitive to sweet food and drinks

Sensitivity to sweets

Sensitivity to sour

Tips

How to Deal with Tooth Sensitivity

Hot Cold

Sensodyne Can Help

“Having sensitive teeth, I found this product worked really well for me. After brushing twice daily for about a week, I was able to enjoy ice cream and cold drinks again.”

—Lorna, Saint Louis, MO

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Other Causes of Tooth Sensitivity Pain

Teeth Whitening

Professional bleaching treatments may cause you to experience sensitive teeth after whitening, but this is only temporary. Some at-home whitening remedies can make tooth sensitivity worse.

Brushing & Flossing

If your teeth are sensitive after brushing or flossing, it may be because you are applying too much pressure or doing it too often. Learning the right techniques—along with brushing twice a day, every day, with Sensodyne—can help.

Dental Procedures

Experiencing tooth sensitivity after a filling is common and usually resolves on its own within a few weeks.

Cavities & Tooth Decay

Unlike tooth sensitivity, tooth pain caused by a cavity produces a dull ache. Speak with a dentist to help confirm a diagnosis.

Teeth Whitening

Professional bleaching treatments may cause you to experience sensitive teeth after whitening, but this is only temporary. Some at-home whitening remedies can make tooth sensitivity worse.
Brushing & Flossing

If your teeth are sensitive after brushing or flossing, it may be because you are applying too much pressure or doing it too often. Learning the right techniques—along with brushing twice a day, every day, with Sensodyne—can help.
Dental Procedures

Experiencing tooth sensitivity after a filling is common and usually resolves on its own within a few weeks.
Cavities & Tooth Decay

Unlike tooth sensitivity, tooth pain caused by a cavity produces a dull ache. Speak with a dentist to help confirm a diagnosis.

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Not Sure If You Have Sensitive Teeth?

It takes less than a minute to find out.

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Do you feel a short, sharp sensation in your teeth when you consume something cold, hot, sweet, or sour?

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Do you find yourself coping with pain after consuming certain hot or cold foods and drinks? (For example, hot tea.)

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How often do you feel this short, sharp sensation in your teeth?

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Do you brush your teeth aggressively or consume acidic foods or drinks regularly?

Based on your answers, you appear to have symptoms of sensitive teeth.

Sensodyne toothpaste is a simple solution to treat sensitivity pain.

If sensitivity persists for more than 4 weeks, speak to your dentist or hygienist.

Explore Our Products

Based on your answers, you may not have symptoms of sensitive teeth.

Speak to your dentist or hygienist to confirm.

Learn About Prevention

Based on your answers, you may not have symptoms of tooth sensitivity, but you could be at risk for enamel erosion, which can lead to sensitive teeth.

Pronamel toothpastes help protect your enamel for healthy, strong teeth.