Oral Health›Common problems

Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Relief and When to Worry

A short, sharp twinge from something hot, cold or sweet is common and usually manageable. Here is what causes it, what you can do at home, and the signs that mean a dentist should take a look.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Sensitivity usually happens when dentine, the softer layer under the enamel, is exposed by worn enamel or gums that have shrunk back.
  • A desensitising toothpaste, a soft brush, gentle brushing and waiting an hour after acidic food or drink before brushing can all help.
  • Desensitising toothpaste will not fix sensitivity caused by tooth decay, so get new or one-sided sensitivity checked.
  • Pain that lingers after the hot or cold thing is gone, pain on biting, or pain that lasts more than 2 days needs a dentist.
  • Facial swelling, a high temperature or trouble breathing or swallowing needs urgent care.

Tooth sensitivity is a quick, sharp pain when something hot, cold, sweet or acidic touches a tooth. The Australian Dental Association describes it as a very common complaint at the dentist. It is often easy to manage, but because it can also be an early sign of a problem such as decay or a cracked tooth, the Oral Health Foundation says it should not be ignored.

What does tooth sensitivity feel like?

According to the Australian Dental Association, it usually feels like a short, sharp pain that goes away once the trigger is removed. Triggers include hot or cold food and drinks, cool air, and gentle touch such as a toothbrush. You can have one sensitive tooth or several.

Why do teeth become sensitive?

A tooth has a hard outer layer of enamel over the crown, and a layer called cementum covering the root below the gumline. Underneath both is dentine, a softer layer. The American Dental Association explains that dentine contains microscopic tubules (tiny hollow channels). When the enamel or cementum is lost, or the gums pull back, these channels let heat, cold and acidic or sticky foods reach the nerves inside the tooth.

Worn enamel

Enamel can be worn away by acid. The Oral Health Foundation lists acid wear from fizzy drinks, fruit juices, citrus fruits or stomach acid, and brushing straight after acidic food or drink. The Australian Dental Association also warns that sipping water with lemon in it throughout the day can cause erosion (the loss of enamel through acid) and sensitivity. Both organisations also list grinding or clenching your teeth as a cause.

Gum recession

Gum recession means the gums shrinking back from the teeth, which exposes the root surface. The Oral Health Foundation says sensitivity becomes more common with age because gums naturally recede over time, and lists brushing too hard or using a hard toothbrush as a cause, and the Australian Dental Association advises not pressing too hard when brushing. Gum disease can also make gums shrink back: healthdirect Australia explains that this exposes the root and makes the tooth sensitive to cold and sweet foods and drinks.

Tooth decay and worn fillings

The American Dental Association lists tooth decay (cavities) and worn fillings among the possible causes. The Australian Dental Association says sensitivity to cold, hot or sweet foods or drinks may be a sign of decay, and that desensitising toothpastes will not help if decay is the cause. In that case the tooth will probably need a filling.

Cracked teeth

The Oral Health Foundation lists signs of a cracked tooth as pain when biting or chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, and pain that comes and goes. It adds that a cracked tooth cannot heal itself and that early treatment can help stop the crack getting worse.

After whitening or dental treatment

The NHS lists teeth becoming sensitive to cold or sweet food and drink as a side effect of professional teeth whitening, usually for a short time. healthdirect Australia says teeth may be sensitive to cold straight after whitening and advises seeing your dental professional if it continues for more than 1 or 2 days. healthdirect also says whitening is not recommended if you already have sensitive teeth. If you are still considering it, see our guide to whitening with sensitive teeth.

Teeth can also be sensitive after other dental treatment. The Australian Dental Association says this is usually temporary and may last a few days or up to 2 weeks, and to see your dentist if it continues or turns into pain.

What can you do at home?

The Oral Health Foundation says sensitivity can often be managed at home, and gives this advice:

  1. Use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth, often called a desensitising toothpaste. The Oral Health Foundation suggests looking for one containing potassium nitrate, potassium citrate or stannous fluoride.
  2. Spit out after brushing but do not rinse with water.
  3. At night, rub a small amount of the toothpaste onto the sensitive area and leave it on.
  4. Use a soft toothbrush and brush gently with small circular movements.
  5. Wait at least 1 hour after acidic food or drink before brushing.
  6. Cut down on acidic and sugary drinks.

Desensitising toothpastes work in different ways. The Australian Dental Association describes two: some soothe the nerves so they stop responding, and others form a barrier over the sensitive area. They take time. The American Dental Association says they usually need several applications before sensitivity is reduced, and the Oral Health Foundation says you need to keep using them to keep the effect.

To help prevent sensitivity, the Australian Dental Association advises brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth every day, not pressing too hard when brushing, and drinking tap water rather than sugary or acidic drinks.

What can a dentist do?

The first job is to find the cause. The Australian Dental Association says your dentist may ask about your eating, drinking and cleaning habits, because things like regularly drinking soft drinks can make teeth sensitive.

Depending on the cause, the treatments the Oral Health Foundation and the American Dental Association describe include:

  • applying a desensitising treatment or a fluoride gel to the sensitive teeth in the surgery
  • recommending a high-fluoride toothpaste
  • a filling or bonding (a tooth-coloured material) over worn areas near the gumline, or a crown or inlay to repair a flaw or decay
  • treating gum disease
  • a gum graft, a surgical procedure to cover and protect a root where gum has been lost
  • root canal treatment, which the American Dental Association describes as an option when sensitivity is severe, persistent and cannot be treated any other way

If decay or a broken-down filling is the cause, the Australian Dental Association says the sensitivity usually goes away once the tooth is fixed, but can get worse and turn into bad pain if it is left.

When is sensitivity a sign of something more serious?

Some patterns suggest more than simple exposed dentine. The Australian Dental Association says that if pain continues after the hot or cold thing has gone, it may be a sign of tooth decay. The Oral Health Foundation advises seeing a dentist if the pain is severe, lasts more than a few weeks, affects only one tooth, or comes on suddenly, as these can be signs of decay, a cracked tooth, gum problems or infection.

Sensitivity to hot or cold in one area can also be a symptom of a dental abscess, a build-up of pus caused by infection. The NHS says an abscess needs urgent treatment by a dentist and will not go away on its own. Other signs include intense pain, a bad taste, a swollen face or jaw and a high temperature.

When to see a dentist
  • Sensitivity is new, affects only one tooth, came on suddenly or is severe.
  • The pain lingers after the hot, cold or sweet thing is gone.
  • It hurts to bite or chew, or the pain comes and goes.
  • Sensitivity lasts more than a few weeks.
  • Toothache lasts more than 2 days or does not get better with painkillers (NHS and healthdirect advice).
  • Sensitivity after whitening lasts more than 1 or 2 days (healthdirect advice).
Get help urgently
  • Ask for an urgent dental appointment if you think you have a dental abscess: intense pain, a bad taste, a swollen face or jaw, or a high temperature. In the UK the NHS says to contact your dentist or NHS 111.
  • Get emergency medical care straight away if swelling in your mouth, face or neck makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or the area around your eye or your neck is swollen. In the UK the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E.

Frequently asked questions

Is tooth sensitivity permanent?

Not necessarily. It depends on the cause. The Australian Dental Association says that sensitivity caused by decay or a breaking-down filling usually goes away once the tooth is fixed. The Oral Health Foundation says sensitive teeth are not something you just have to live with, and that symptoms can usually be controlled with the right care and advice.

How long does a desensitising toothpaste take to work?

It is not instant. The American Dental Association says it usually takes several applications, and the Oral Health Foundation says you need to keep using it to keep the effect.

Should I stop whitening my teeth if they become sensitive?

Talk to your dentist. The NHS says whitening can cause temporary sensitivity and to speak to your dentist if side effects bother you. healthdirect advises seeing your dental professional if sensitivity lasts more than 1 or 2 days, and says whitening is not recommended if you already have sensitive teeth.

Sources

  1. Sensitive teeth, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  2. Sensitive teeth, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  3. Sensitive teeth, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  4. Cracked teeth, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  5. Teeth whitening, NHS, accessed September 2026
  6. Teeth whitening, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  7. Gum disease, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  8. Toothache, NHS, accessed September 2026
  9. Toothache and gum swelling, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  10. Dental abscess, NHS, accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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