Oral Health

Sensitive teeth come down to one thing — exposed dentine. Here's what triggers the jolt, how to tell it from something more serious, and the proven way to seal the nerve and stop the pain.

Sensitive teeth after a scale and clean is normal, expected and temporary - the hardened tartar that was removed had been insulating your exposed root surfaces, and your gums were already inflamed before you sat down. Here is why it happens, how long it lasts, what helps, and the small number of symptoms that genuinely mean go back.

Cold water triggers a sharp jolt because exposed dentine carries the signal straight to your nerve. But how long the pain lasts after the cold is gone tells you everything: seconds means manageable sensitivity, while lingering, throbbing or heat-triggered pain means the nerve is dying and needs a dentist this week.

Acid erosion is the permanent loss of enamel to acid - no bacteria, pure chemistry, and it does NOT grow back. Here is why frequency beats volume, why sugar-free soft drinks still erode teeth, and why brushing straight after acid makes it worse.

There are only two mechanisms that reduce tooth sensitivity: nerve desensitisers like potassium nitrate, and tubule occluders like stannous fluoride. Here is how each one works, what the evidence honestly says, and the pain that no toothpaste will ever fix.

Receded gum tissue does not grow back - no toothpaste, mouthwash, oil pull or supplement regrows it, no matter what the internet claims. What can honestly be done is stop the recession getting worse, manage the exposed-root sensitivity, and where clinically indicated, have a periodontist surgically cover the root with a gum graft.

Sensitive teeth are a symptom, not a diagnosis. Receding gums, acid erosion, a cracked tooth, decay, a failing filling, grinding and gum inflammation each cause sensitivity differently — and each needs a different fix. This guide walks the full differential: what triggers each one, how long the pain lasts, whether it hits one tooth or many, and the one test that tells you when to stop reaching for toothpaste and book a dentist.