How To Deal With Sensitive Teeth — At Any Time of Year
Do you have sensitive teeth? Tooth sensitivity in response to cold food (ice cream), hot drinks (tea) and even sweet foods (fudge) is common and familiar. Just how common. As many as one-third of Canadians experience at least occasionally sensitive teeth — over 10,000,000 people in Canada alone. What about when you step outside into a brisk winter day? Have you ever noticed that your teeth become sensitive then? Many people do, and for the same reason that your teeth are sensitive in response to cold ice cream. What causes cold-related tooth sensitivity? Exposure to cold temperatures can cause cracks in your teeth — especially if your tooth enamel is otherwise vulnerable for reasons we’ll mention below. When cracks do occur, microscopic tubes and the dentin layer below your enamel are exposed. The exposure of those microscopic tubes causes pain just like the pain you might recognize from past cavities or gum disease. Your dentin layer beneath the enamel layer is also covered...