Sensitive teeth: Causes, prevention and treatment

The mouth can show nutritional deficiencies or general infection. For example, systemic diseases such as diabetes may first become evident through oral health problems (The Journal of the American Dental Association, 2006). Therefore, regular dental check ups are advisable for all patients.

However, even regular attendees may present to the surgery with dental sensitivity. This could range from sporadic, unprovoked sensitivity (for example, the patient may feel that there is no specific trigger to their sensitivity) to occurring as a result of specific triggers such as hot food, cold drinks, sweet food or even brushing (Dababneh et al, 1999).

This article explores the different causes of dental sensitivity, and how these presenting problems can be treated.