If you have sensitive teeth, you'll probably experience occasional discomfort or pain when eating or drinking cold, hot or acidic food, or when you brush your teeth.

Underneath the protective enamel coating of teeth is a highly porous layer called dentine. Once dentine becomes exposed, the nerve in the centre of the tooth becomes susceptible to stimuli and responds with a short sharp pain.

 

The primary causes of sensitive teeth include receding gums and damage to the protective layer of tooth enamel. Some of the common reasons this happens are:

• Bad brushing: excessive and overly vigorous brushing can wear away enamel exposing the underlying dentine. Dentine may also be exposed as a result of gum recession or gum disease.

• Stress: grinding your teeth will wear away enamel.

• Acidic diet: acidic food and drink can cause erosion of tooth enamel, and this is often exacerbated by over-enthusiastic tooth brushing.

 

Sensitivity can be reduced by brushing with a toothpaste that is specially formulated to reduce sensitivity.