Home remedies and in-office dental procedures can help ease your oral pain. Here’s how.

The last time you got an ice cream cone or sipped a cup of hot coffee, did you get an ache in your teeth? That could be because you have sensitive teeth, which you might also see called “dentin hypersensitivity.”

If that’s the case, you have some options — including booking an appointment with your dentist or dental hygienist. They can help you with any aspect of your oral health.

But first, let’s look at some of the symptoms of sensitive teeth and why you might be experiencing them. Also, find some things you and your dentist can do to help ease your pain.

What are the symptoms of sensitive teeth?

Tooth sensitivity, or sensitive teeth, occurs when certain stimuli, such as a change in temperature, cause your teeth to be sensitive or painful. Symptoms might include:

• Pain while brushing or flossing
• Sensitivity to cold or hot food or drinks (like ice cream or coffee)
• Sensitivity to acidic or sweet food or drinks (like grapefruit or soda)

“The pain might be sharp, sudden, shooting or mild,” says Rohini Agarwal, DMD, a dentist based in Dallas, Texas. “Pain can worsen under pressure. Depending on the cause, it can involve one tooth or multiple teeth.”

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What are the causes of sensitive teeth?

When you look at your teeth in the mirror, you might think they’re made from a solid white piece of something. But they actually have layers. These include:

• Enamel: This is the protective top layer of your teeth.
• Cementum: This is the protective top layer on the roots of your teeth under your gumline.
• Dentin: This is the layer under the 2 layers above, which has small hollow tubes in it called tubules.

When your teeth’s enamel wears down or the roots become exposed, that can cause your teeth to become sensitive. This can happen when dentin loses its protective coating of enamel or cementum.

If the dentin is exposed, its tubules allow things that are hot, cold or acidic to reach the nerves inside the tooth. That can cause sensitivity and pain. The loss of protection above or below the gumline can be caused by things like:

• A cracked tooth or chipped enamel
• Acidic food and drinks
• Brushing your teeth too hard, which can cause the enamel to wear down or the gums to recede (your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, exposing the roots)
• Grinding your teeth, which wears down the enamel
• Gum disease
• Receding gums due to gum disease (periodontal disease)
• Tooth decay

Teeth-whitening products may also cause teeth to become sensitive, but it’s usually temporary, Dr. Agarwal says.

What are some at-home treatments for sensitive teeth?

If you have sensitive teeth, you may be able to treat it at home. Here are some ways that you can help avoid it:

1. Practice good dental hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and don’t scrub or brush vigorously.
2. Use toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. It can cover the exposed dentin tubules and help ease sensitivity, notes Dr. Agarwal.
3. Apply over-the-counter MI dental paste to your teeth. (The “MI” stands for minimum intervention.) “It replenishes the calcium and phosphate,” says Dr. Agarwal. Those are minerals that help strengthen your teeth.
4. Use alcohol-free dental products with fluoride. A fluoride mouthwash may help decrease sensitivity.
5. Drink water after eating acidic foods, such as citrus fruit. Also after drinking acidic beverages, such as carbonated drinks or wine.

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How can dentists treat sensitive teeth?

If you have sensitive teeth, it’s a good idea to see your dentist regularly for routine exams and cleanings. “Routine care is important,” says Dr. Agarwal.

Regular exams help your dental hygienist identify minor problems so that your dentist can treat them. Minor problems could include small cavities, which could become deeper cavities later and cause more teeth sensitivity or oral pain.

Regular cleanings can also prevent the buildup of plaque, which can cause your gums to recede. Plaque is a film containing bacteria that sticks to teeth.

To treat teeth sensitivity, your dentist may also recommend the following in-office procedures:

• Applying fluoride gel to your teeth to strengthen tooth enamel and block tooth sensitivity
• Applying dentin sealants to exposed root surfaces (that’s a protective coating applied to your teeth that helps prevent cavities)

Your dentist will also check whether you may have a condition that contributes to sensitive teeth and whether it’s a good idea to treat it. This could be:

• You grind your teeth. If you do this, your dentist may recommend a custom-made hard mouthguard. These work better than over-the-counter soft mouthguards, Dr. Agarwal says. They fit in your mouth over your teeth and help prevent you from grinding your teeth at night.
• You have signs of tooth decay. Your dentist may need to fill one of your cavities. Similarly, you may need to have a worn filling replaced.
• You have receding gums. If you have gum recession, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist to see if you need a surgical gum graft. That’s a procedure where they attach new tissue to your gums. (A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating gums.)
• You have a cracked, chipped or worn-down tooth. To restore a cracked, chipped or worn-down tooth or treat certain types of tooth decay, your dentist may recommend a crown, inlay or bonding. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that encircles a tooth. An inlay is a custom-molded filling that fits into the groove of a tooth. Bonding is an application of tooth-colored resin to the surface of a tooth.
• You have teeth crowding. If it’s contributing to teeth sensitivity, your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for evaluation. That’s a type of dentist that can help straighten your teeth, among other things.
• You have an infected or inflamed tooth. If the inside of your tooth (the pulp) has become infected or inflamed and is causing teeth sensitivity, you may need a root canal. That’s when a dental surgeon will remove the pulp and nerves inside the tooth that are causing it to be sensitive. They’ll then clean, disinfect and fill the tooth. They’ll place a crown or filling on the tooth to protect it and restore it to full function.

How can dental insurance cover tooth sensitivity?

The cost of treatment for tooth sensitivity will vary based on your insurance plan and what a dentist may have to do to your teeth to keep them from being sensitive.

Dental insurance typically covers preventive services, such as routine exams, X-rays and cleanings. It also may cover basic services, such as fillings and simple extractions.
It’s worth noting that dental insurance may cover certain treatments, like sealants and fluoride gel, as preventive services only up to age 18, but not for adults.

If you need a more extensive dental procedure, such as a crown or root canal, these will be considered major services. Your plan may include limited coverage for them.

You may also be required to get preauthorization to have certain procedures covered. That’s where you’d have to get approval from the dental insurance company before getting a procedure. For example, bonding may be approved for coverage if it’s to restore functionality but not if it’s a cosmetic procedure.

Your out-of-pocket costs may include:

• Your deductible: That’s the amount you pay for covered dental services before your dental insurance company starts to pay. There’s often an individual deductible and a higher family deductible.
• Copayments (copays): These are set amounts you pay for covered services, such as $100 for a filling.
• Coinsurance: That’s a percentage you pay for a covered service, such as 30% to 50% of a major covered dental service, such as a crown or root canal.

Your dental insurance may also have an annual cap on the dollar amount of coverage. That’s the maximum amount a dental plan will pay for eligible dental services during the plan year.

Big bills don’t have to get in the way of your dental health. Here’s how a supplemental dental plan can help keep costs down. Call a licensed insurance agent at 1-844-211-7730 for more information.

For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare, and/or one of its affiliates, and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. “Teeth.” January 26, 2023. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24655-teeth

Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Sensitive Teeth: Why They Hurt and How to Stop the Pain.” Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sensitive-teeth Accessed November 4, 2024.

Mayo Clinic. “What Causes Sensitive teeth, and How Can I Treat Them?” June 19, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sensitive-teeth/faq-20057854

MouthHealthy ADA. “The Anatomy of a Tooth.” Retrieved from https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/tooth#. Accessed January 13, 2025.

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