Elmhurst Dentist Discusses Dental Sensitivity To Cold

Written by Dr. Scharfenberg on Oct 26, 2016

Many dental patients report that their teeth are sensitive to cold, or that they experience dental pain when consuming cold substances or exposed to cold weather. Today our Elmhurst dentists are going to be walking you through some of the causes of cold sensitivity, as well as things that you can do to minimize these issues.

When you experience dental sensitivity and pain, it is usually because the dentin of your tooth is being affected. Dentin is the layer of the tooth that sits under the dental enamel, and your dental enamel is really designed to protect the more vulnerable layers of your tooth However, over time, dental enamel can become thinner and compromised. When this happens, your dentist is exposed to more sensations, and you are likely to experience discomfort or pain.

There are a number of other oral health issues that can lead to cold sensitivity:

· If you have a cavity, your tooth will likely become sensitive to both hot and cold substances

· Loose fillings and restorations can also cause dental sensitivity, because substances are able to get under these restorations into the more vulnerable layers of your tooth

· If your gum tissue is receding, you may experience dental sensitivity because some of your roots are exposed

Dental treatments to treat dental sensitivity are designed to strengthen, thicken, and fortify enamel and/or gum tissue, so that the vulnerable portions of your smile are protected. Dental bonding treatment can also help to cover your natural enamel and serve as an additional buffer for your smile.

If you are dealing with cold sensitivity, our Elmhurst dentists are happy to give you more information about your treatment options and effective sensitivity-minimizing products. We look forward to speaking with you!