Tooth Sensitivity in Bannockburn VIC: Why It Happens and What Helps
Does a cold drink or a frosty morning make a tooth twinge? Find out what causes it, what you can try at home, and when to have it checked on High Street by calling (03) 4217 3810.
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Tooth sensitivity is a short, sharp twinge when a tooth meets cold, heat, sweet or sour food, or cold air. It usually happens when dentine, the softer layer under the enamel, is exposed by worn enamel or gums that have pulled back. If you're dealing with tooth sensitivity in Bannockburn VIC, this guide covers the common causes, what helps at home and when to see a dentist.
What Is Tooth Sensitivity, and Why Do Teeth Twinge? A Bannockburn Guide
Tooth sensitivity, also called dentine hypersensitivity, is a brief, sharp pain in one or more teeth that starts with a trigger and fades soon after. Under the hard enamel of each tooth is dentine, which has tiny channels that run towards the nerve. When dentine is exposed, cold, heat, sugar or acid can reach the nerve through those channels, and you feel a twinge.
Common triggers include:
- cold drinks and ice cream;
- hot tea or coffee;
- sweet or sour food, such as lollies or citrus;
- cold air on a frosty Golden Plains morning;
- brushing or flossing one particular spot.
When only one tooth is sensitive, there's more likely to be a specific cause, such as a crack or a worn filling, that's worth having checked.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth? Common Reasons Behind the Twinge
The most common causes of sensitive teeth are worn enamel and gums that have pulled back from the teeth, because both leave dentine exposed. Enamel can wear from brushing too hard, from grinding, or from acid in soft drinks, juice, wine or reflux. Gums can recede with age, gum disease or a hard toothbrush. Decay, cracks and worn fillings can also let triggers through to the nerve.
Three causes are worth a closer look:
- Grinding or clenching, often during sleep. If your jaw is also sore in the morning, read when grinding also brings jaw pain.
- Receding gums, which uncover the root surface. Roots have no enamel, so they can be more sensitive. healthdirect's information on gum disease and receding gums explains the signs.
- Decay, a cracked tooth or a broken filling, which can open a path to the nerve. See sensitivity from a chipped or cracked tooth for what to do in the meantime.
Why Might a Tooth Suddenly Become Sensitive?
A tooth can suddenly become sensitive when something changes, such as a new crack, a chipped or lost filling, decay that has reached the dentine, or recent dental work. Whitening and some fillings can also cause short-term sensitivity that settles on its own. If the sensitivity is new, sits in one tooth or keeps getting worse, have it checked so the cause can be found.
After a filling, a clean or whitening, some people notice sensitivity for a few days. If you've recently whitened your teeth, our page on sensitivity after professional whitening explains what's normal. If it lasts longer, or something doesn't feel right, call us and we'll book you in to have a dentist check it.
Is a Sensitive Tooth a Sign of Something More Serious?
Sensitivity on its own is common and often has a simple cause, but some signs point to a bigger problem that needs a dentist soon. Pain that lingers after the cold or heat has gone, a throbbing ache, pain when you bite, or pain that wakes you at night can mean the nerve is inflamed or infected, or the tooth is cracked.
Call us if you notice:
- swelling in your gum or face;
- a bad taste, or a pimple-like lump on the gum.
Pain relief from the chemist can ease pain for a while, but it doesn't treat the cause. If you have facial swelling and feel unwell, or have trouble swallowing or breathing, call triple zero (000) or go to an emergency department.
Easing Sensitive Teeth at Home: What Bannockburn Families Can Try
For mild sensitivity, a few changes at home often help: brush gently with a soft toothbrush, use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth twice a day, and cut back on acidic food and drink. Sensitive toothpaste can take a few weeks of daily use to make a difference, and it doesn't work for everyone. healthdirect's guide to sensitive teeth has more general advice.
Things you can try:
- After brushing, spit out the toothpaste but don't rinse, so it stays on your teeth longer.
- After acidic food or drink, rinse with water and wait 30 to 60 minutes before you brush.
- Have acidic drinks with meals rather than sipping them through the day.
If home care hasn't helped after a few weeks, book a check so a dentist can look for the cause. Many dental problems are simpler to treat when they're found early.
When Should You See a Bannockburn Dentist About Sensitive Teeth?
See a dentist if sensitivity lasts more than a couple of weeks despite sensitive toothpaste, stays in one tooth, or comes with any of the warning signs above. If a tooth twinges every time you eat or drink, it's a good idea to have it checked soon. Call and we'll find the earliest suitable time.
What your dentist finds decides what helps:
- Decay or a worn filling may need fixing a decayed or worn spot with a white filling. Like any filling, it won't last forever and may need replacing one day.
- Gum recession or gum disease may need treating receding or inflamed gums. Gum that has already receded doesn't grow back on its own.
- An inflamed or infected nerve may need treating an inflamed or infected tooth nerve. The tooth can feel tender for a few days afterwards, and it may need a crown later.
- Worn enamel with no other problem can be watched with regular check-ups to watch worn enamel.
How We Help With Tooth Sensitivity in Bannockburn
At our High Street clinic, a dentist starts by asking when the twinge happens and which teeth it affects. They then check your teeth and gums, and may test the tooth with a puff of cold air or take an X-ray if needed. We explain what we found, your options and what each one costs before any treatment starts.
Depending on the cause, options can include a desensitising treatment or fluoride painted onto the sensitive area, covering an exposed root with tooth-coloured material, replacing a worn filling, gum care, or a night guard. Desensitising treatments may need repeating, and no single treatment suits every tooth.
Checking sensitive teeth is part of our dental clinic care for sensitive and sore teeth. Many of our patients come from Teesdale and Lethbridge as well as Bannockburn, and having it checked here means no drive to Geelong. We're open Monday to Friday 9am–6pm and Saturday 9am–1pm. The clinic is on the ground floor with no steps, and we claim on the spot with HICAPS for all health funds.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Tasneem Kayum, dentist and owner of Golden Plains Dental Services. Dr Tasneem has more than nine years of experience as a dentist, including four years caring for nursing-home residents.
Common Questions About Sensitive Teeth in Bannockburn
You'll find more answers about sensitive and sore teeth on our FAQ page.
How much does it cost to have a sensitive tooth checked in Bannockburn?
The cost of having a sensitive tooth checked in Bannockburn depends on whether you're a new patient, whether you need X-rays, and what treatment, if any, your dentist recommends. We explain your options and what each one costs before any treatment starts. We claim on the spot with HICAPS for all health funds and accept DVA Gold and White Cards. See health fund claims for a sensitive tooth visit.
Can I have sensitive teeth checked on a Saturday in Bannockburn?
Yes, you can have sensitive teeth checked on a Saturday at our Bannockburn clinic, from 9am to 1pm. We're also open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, and closed on Sundays. Book online or call (03) 4217 3810, and check Saturday opening hours and parking details before you come, as parking is limited.
What should I do if a sensitive tooth turns into a bad toothache?
If a sensitive tooth turns into a throbbing or lasting toothache, call us during opening hours. We fit emergency patients in between booked appointments wherever we can. Pain relief from the chemist can ease pain for a while, but it doesn't treat the cause. Read about help when sensitivity turns into toothache to see what to do before your visit.
What happens when a Bannockburn dentist checks a sensitive tooth?
When a Bannockburn dentist checks a sensitive tooth, they ask when it twinges, look at your teeth and gums, and may test the tooth with cold air or take an X-ray if needed. They then explain the likely cause and your options before anything is done. If it's your first visit, see new patient forms and what to bring so you're ready on the day.
Are the dentists who check sensitive teeth in Bannockburn registered?
Yes. Our Bannockburn dentists, Dr Tasneem, who owns the practice, and Dr Vivek Juneja, are registered with Ahpra, the national regulator for health practitioners. A dentist checks your sensitive tooth and explains what they find in plain words before any treatment. You can read about the dentists who check sensitive teeth before you book.
Can grinding my teeth make them sensitive?
Yes, grinding or clenching your teeth, often during sleep, can wear enamel away and expose the dentine underneath, which can make teeth sensitive. It can also cause small cracks and a sore jaw in the morning. A dentist can check for signs of wear and may suggest a custom night guard to protect worn teeth, which protects your teeth but doesn't stop the grinding itself.
Get a Sensitive Tooth Checked in Bannockburn
Call (03) 4217 3810 or book online, and we'll find a time that suits you, Monday to Friday 9am–6pm or Saturday 9am–1pm. To see what else we do on High Street, including check-ups, fillings and root canal treatment, browse every service our dental clinic offers.