Sensitive teeth: why they hurt and what helps

A flash of pain when you drink cold water, bite into an ice cream or brush your teeth: sensitive teeth are a very common complaint. Most of the time the cause is simple and can be managed with everyday habits and, if needed, a treatment at the dental practice. But pain that lingers or wakes you up at night is not simple sensitivity. This guide explains how to recognise tooth sensitivity, why it happens, what you can do and what the dentist does, based on published scientific reviews. It is for information only and does not replace an examination.

What do sensitive teeth feel like?

Tooth sensitivity (dentists call it dentine hypersensitivity) is a sharp, short pain that starts when something triggers it and goes away within seconds once the trigger stops. The usual triggers are:

cold: cool water, ice cream, cold air when you breathe through your mouth;
sometimes heat;
sweet and acidic things;
touch: the toothbrush, a fingernail, a spoon.

It often affects several teeth, especially at the neck of the tooth (near the gum) on the canines and premolars, but it can affect a single tooth.

It is common: a meta-analysis of 39 studies estimates that around 32 percent of the people examined have it, with very different figures from one study to another depending on how it was measured (Wang et al., 2025, PubMed). Another review finds figures ranging from 8.6 to 84.7 percent depending on the population (Denucci et al., 2026, PubMed).

At the practice, the sensitivity test is simple: the dentist blows a gentle puff of air on the tooth or touches it lightly with an instrument, and you say how strong the pain is. The dentist also checks that nothing else (decay, a crack, a damaged filling) explains the pain.

When could it be something else?

Sensitivity is diagnosed once other causes have been ruled out. Some signs point to decay, a crack or a problem with the tooth nerve instead.

What you feel	What it may mean
Sharp, short pain with cold or brushing, gone within seconds	Sensitive teeth
Pain with sweet things in one tooth, with a hole or a stain	Tooth decay (see the tooth decay guide)
Pain that lingers for a minute or more after cold or heat	Inflamed tooth nerve
Pain that comes on its own, with no trigger, or wakes you at night	Inflamed nerve: root canal treatment may be needed (see root canal treatment)
Sharp pain when biting on one precise spot	A cracked tooth or a filling that is too high
Pain when biting with a swollen gum or cheek	An abscess: see a dentist quickly

In all these cases, do not just switch toothpaste: book an appointment. The toothache guide describes the different types of pain.

Why are my teeth sensitive?

Exposed dentine

The tooth is protected by enamel on the crown and by the gum over the root. Underneath lies the dentine, a layer crossed by tiny channels that lead to the nerve. When the dentine is exposed, cold, touch or sweet things make the fluid in these channels move, and the nerve reacts with a sharp pain. So almost every cause of sensitivity is something that exposes the dentine.

Receding gums

When the gum pulls back, the root shows. It has no enamel and becomes sensitive to cold and brushing. Gum recession can come from gum disease, brushing too hard, the position of the tooth, or age. The gum disease guide explains how gums are treated.

Brushing too hard

A hard toothbrush, scrubbing from side to side and pressing too hard can wear away the gum and the neck of the teeth. Studies do not all agree on the exact role of brushing frequency and technique (Denucci et al., 2026, PubMed), but gentle brushing remains the rule. See the brushing and flossing guide.

Acid wear: drinks, reflux, vomiting

Acids soften and slowly dissolve enamel: this is called erosion. The review mentioned above found sensitivity far more often in people with worn teeth (42.1 percent on average) than in people without wear (18.7 percent), and linked it to some acidic eating habits (Denucci et al., 2026, PubMed). A meta-analysis on acid wear of the permanent teeth links it in particular to:

acidic foods and fizzy drinks;
acid reflux (regurgitation) and digestive disorders;

(Marschner et al., 2024, PubMed).

Repeated vomiting (pregnancy, illness, eating disorders) also exposes the teeth to stomach acid: a review shows that erosion and tooth sensitivity are more common in people with an eating disorder (Chan et al., 2024, PubMed). If this applies to you, talk to your doctor too.

In daily life, the most common acids are fizzy drinks, fruit juices, energy drinks, sucking citrus fruit, vinegar, and drinks held in the mouth for a long time.

Clenching or grinding your teeth

Clenching and grinding (bruxism) wear the teeth down, can crack the enamel and expose the dentine. The same review links sensitivity to these habits (Denucci et al., 2026, PubMed). If you think you grind your teeth, mention it to your dentist: a night guard may help.

After a scale and polish, whitening or a filling

After a scale and polish: once the tartar is removed, the necks and roots it was covering are exposed to cold. After deep cleaning under the gum, a review found root sensitivity in about half of patients, rising for one to three weeks and then easing; this figure is based on only two studies (von Troil et al., 2002, PubMed). See the scale and polish guide.
After whitening: sensitivity is the most common side effect; according to the Cochrane review, it is usually mild and temporary, and more common with stronger products (Eachempati et al., 2018, PubMed). See the teeth whitening guide.
After a filling: sensitivity to cold or when biting for a few days is possible, including with a white (composite) filling (Schenkel and Veitz-Keenan, 2019, PubMed). It should get better day by day.

What helps sensitive teeth?

These steps aim to protect the dentine and let the sensitivity settle. They need a few weeks of regular use.

A soft toothbrush: replace it as soon as the bristles splay.
A gentle technique: small movements from the gum towards the tooth, without pressing hard or scrubbing sideways.
A toothpaste for sensitive teeth, twice a day: a network meta-analysis of 32 trials and 4,638 participants concludes that some formulations of toothpaste for sensitive teeth, used twice a day, reduce the pain (Pollard et al., 2023, PubMed). Not all formulations are equal: ask your dentist or pharmacist. The effect is not immediate; it often takes several weeks.
At night, you can spit out the toothpaste without rinsing much with water, so it stays on the teeth.
After an acidic food or drink, rinse your mouth with water and wait a while before brushing: enamel softened by acid wears more easily under the brush.
Cut down on acids: less often, preferably with meals, without holding them in your mouth; a straw can help with acidic drinks.
Avoid abrasive powders and internet "tricks" (lemon, scrubbing powders): they can wear the enamel even more.
A mouthwash for sensitive teeth can add to brushing, but does not replace it.

There is no home remedy with proven benefit against sensitivity. If things do not improve after a few weeks of these steps, see a dentist.

What the dentist does

The dentist starts by looking for the cause: checking the teeth and gums, looking for decay or a crack, sometimes taking an X-ray, and asking about your diet, your brushing and any reflux. Depending on what they find, they may suggest:

applying a varnish or a protective coating to the sensitive areas, sometimes over several visits;
sealing the dentine: a thin layer of bonded resin that closes the dentine channels;
a filling when the neck of the tooth is hollowed by wear or when there is decay;
treating the gums when they are diseased, and sometimes, in certain cases of recession, gum surgery to cover the root;
a night guard if you clench or grind your teeth;
adjusting a filling that is too high, or root canal treatment if the nerve is affected.

Laser treatment also exists: a Cochrane review concludes that lasers may reduce pain, but the evidence is limited and uncertain (Mahdian et al., 2021, PubMed).

The cost depends on the treatment needed and the number of teeth involved; it is explained before any decision.

When to see a dentist

Book an appointment if:

the sensitivity lasts more than two to three weeks despite a soft brush and a suitable toothpaste;
it started suddenly in a single tooth;
you see a hole, a stain, a crack or a receding gum;
the sensitivity follows a treatment (filling, whitening, scale and polish) and is not easing day by day.

See a dentist quickly if the pain lingers after cold, comes on its own or wakes you at night, or if it hurts when you bite.

Go to the emergency department straight away if you have facial swelling that is spreading, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Booking an appointment

Consultations take place in Rabat, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm; the address is given when you book. The easiest way is to send a WhatsApp message describing what you feel (for example, "my teeth have been sensitive to cold for a month"). See the appointment section.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my teeth suddenly sensitive?

Sensitivity that starts suddenly can come from new decay, a crack, a recent dental treatment, a switch to a more acidic diet, clenching your teeth during a stressful period, or a gum that has receded; an examination can find the cause.

What causes sensitive teeth?

Most often, exposed dentine, the layer under the enamel that leads to the nerve: receding gums, brushing too hard, acid wear from drinks, reflux or vomiting, and grinding your teeth are the main causes; sensitivity can also follow a scale and polish, whitening or a filling.

How can I cure sensitive teeth?

By dealing with the cause and protecting the dentine: a soft brush, a gentle technique, a toothpaste for sensitive teeth used twice a day for several weeks, and fewer acids; if this is not enough, the dentist can apply a varnish, seal the dentine or treat the gums.

Which toothpaste is best for sensitive teeth?

A fluoride toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth, used twice a day for several weeks; some formulations have been shown to reduce the pain, but they are not all equal, so ask your dentist or pharmacist for advice.

Are there home remedies for sensitive teeth?

No home remedy has been shown to work, and some tricks, such as rubbing the teeth with lemon or an abrasive powder, can make wear worse; the steps that help are a soft brush, a gentle technique, a suitable toothpaste and fewer acids.

Is it normal to have sensitive teeth after whitening?

Yes, sensitivity is the most common side effect of whitening; it is usually mild and passes after the treatment, and the dentist can space out the applications or pause if needed; tell your dentist before whitening if your teeth are already sensitive.

Only one tooth is sensitive to cold: is it serious?

Not necessarily, but sensitivity in a single tooth can come from decay, a crack, a recent or damaged filling, or a gum that has receded in that spot; it is best to have it checked, especially if it started suddenly.

Can sensitive teeth go away?

Yes, often: once the cause is corrected and the dentine is protected by regular habits or a treatment at the practice, the pain eases; it can come back if the cause continues, which is why it is worth treating.