That sharp pain when you drink something cold. The wince when you breathe in cold air. The discomfort when brushing your teeth.
One in eight people in the UK experience tooth sensitivity, and most put up with it far longer than necessary. The condition worsens gradually as enamel continues wearing away, exposing more of the vulnerable dentin layer beneath.
The good news is that sensitive teeth respond well to treatment. The key is understanding what's causing your sensitivity and addressing it before the damage becomes irreversible.
Why Teeth Become Sensitive
Healthy teeth have a hard enamel coating above the gum line and a protective layer called cementum below it. Underneath both sits dentin—a porous layer containing microscopic tubules that connect directly to the tooth's nerve.
When enamel or cementum wears away, these tubules become exposed. Hot, cold, sweet, or acidic substances can now reach the nerve through these channels, causing the characteristic sharp pain of tooth sensitivity.
Several factors cause this protective layer to break down.
Brushing too hard wears away enamel and causes gums to recede, exposing tooth roots. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush accelerates this damage. Most people brush with far more force than necessary—the motion matters more than the pressure.
Acidic foods and drinks erode enamel gradually over time. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, wine, and carbonated drinks all contribute. The damage compounds when you brush immediately after consuming acidic foods—you're essentially scrubbing away softened enamel.
Teeth grinding (bruxism) wears down enamel mechanically. This often happens during sleep, so many people don't realize they're doing it until their dentist points out the wear patterns.
Gum disease causes gums to pull away from teeth, exposing sensitive root surfaces. Unlike the crown of the tooth, roots have no enamel protection at all.
Recent dental work temporarily irritates dentin. Fillings, cleanings, and whitening treatments can all cause sensitivity that usually resolves within days or weeks.
Cracked or chipped teeth expose dentin directly. Even hairline cracks invisible to the naked eye can cause significant sensitivity.
Treatments That Work
Desensitizing Toothpaste (£4-£8)
This is the first-line treatment for most sensitive teeth. Desensitizing toothpastes contain compounds (potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride) that block pain transmission from the tooth surface to the nerve.
The catch is that they take time to work—typically 2-4 weeks of consistent twice-daily use before you notice improvement. They don't provide instant relief, but they're highly effective for ongoing management once they build up in your teeth.
Different brands use different active ingredients. If one doesn't work after a month, try another with a different formula. Sensodyne, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, and Oral-B Sensitivity all use slightly different approaches.
For extra relief, apply a small amount directly to sensitive spots before bed and leave it on rather than rinsing. This gives the active ingredients maximum contact time with the exposed dentin.
Fluoride Treatment (Free-£100)
Professional fluoride treatment strengthens enamel and reduces sensitivity by remineralizing tooth surfaces. Your dentist applies a concentrated fluoride gel, varnish, or foam to your teeth, typically as part of a regular check-up.
The treatment takes minutes. Your dentist paints fluoride varnish directly onto teeth or uses a tray to apply gel for several minutes. You'll need to avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes afterward to allow maximum absorption.
Most people need multiple applications over several appointments for best results—typically every 2-4 weeks initially, then maintenance treatments every 6-12 months.
Cost varies significantly. Fluoride application is included in Band 1 treatment (£27.40) for preventive care. Private practices charge £30-£100 per session depending on the product used and treatment duration.
Your dentist might also prescribe high-fluoride toothpaste for home use. These prescription-strength toothpastes (containing 2,800-5,000 ppm fluoride versus 1,350-1,500 ppm in regular toothpaste) provide ongoing protection between professional treatments.
Dental Bonding (£95-£250)
When gum recession exposes tooth roots, dental bonding creates a protective barrier over the sensitive area. The dentist applies tooth-colored resin directly to the exposed root surface, covering the vulnerable dentin.
The procedure is straightforward. Your dentist roughens the tooth surface slightly, applies bonding agent, shapes the resin material to cover the exposed area, and hardens it with UV light. The entire process takes 30-60 minutes per tooth.
Bonding lasts 5-10 years with proper care. The resin can stain from coffee, tea, or smoking, but it's easily touched up or replaced when needed.
This treatment works particularly well for sensitivity caused by recession at the gum line. The resin both protects the sensitive area and improves appearance by filling in the notches that recession creates.
Cost ranges from £95-£250 per tooth depending on the extent of bonding needed and your location. Urban practices typically charge more than regional ones.
Gum Grafting (£200-£2,000)
Severe gum recession that exposes large areas of root surface may require surgical intervention. Gum grafting takes tissue (usually from the roof of your mouth) and attaches it to areas where gums have receded, covering exposed roots.
This is typically reserved for cases where recession is extensive, progressive, or causing significant sensitivity that simpler treatments haven't resolved. It's also used when recession threatens tooth stability or creates aesthetic concerns.
The procedure requires local anesthetic and involves some post-operative discomfort. Recovery takes 1-2 weeks. Results are permanent—grafted tissue becomes part of your natural gum line.
Cost varies dramatically based on how many teeth need treatment and the complexity of the grafting required. A single tooth graft costs £200-£500. Multiple teeth or complex cases requiring specialized techniques can reach £2,000 or more.
Root Canal Treatment (£499-£599)
When sensitivity is severe, persistent, and unresponsive to other treatments, root canal treatment removes the nerve entirely. This eliminates sensitivity completely because there's no longer a nerve to transmit pain signals.
This is the most invasive option and is only recommended when:
- Sensitivity is so severe it significantly impacts quality of life
- The tooth has irreversible nerve damage
- Other treatments have failed
- X-rays show nerve infection or inflammation
Root canal treatment costs £499 for front teeth, £549 for premolars, and £599 for molars. Add the cost of a crown (£499-£650) since root canal-treated teeth typically need crowns for long-term protection.
Preventing Sensitivity From Worsening
Once you have sensitive teeth, certain habits prevent the condition from deteriorating while treatments take effect.
Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush immediately. Electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors work well because they alert you when you're brushing too hard. Use gentle circular motions rather than aggressive back-and-forth scrubbing.
Wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods before brushing. Acid softens enamel temporarily—brushing during this window scrapes away weakened enamel. In practice, this often means brushing before breakfast rather than after if you drink orange juice or eat fruit.
Limit acidic foods and drinks. When you do consume them, use a straw to minimize contact with teeth, and rinse your mouth with water immediately afterward to neutralize acids.
If you grind your teeth, get a custom night guard. Grinding wears away enamel relentlessly. A properly fitted night guard (different from the bulky sports guards sold in pharmacies) protects teeth while you sleep. Custom guards from your dentist cost £200-£400 but last years and prevent thousands of pounds in future dental work.
Maintain regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can spot early signs of enamel erosion, gum recession, or grinding wear before they cause significant sensitivity. Catching problems early means simpler, cheaper treatments.
When Sensitivity Means Something Serious
Most tooth sensitivity stems from worn enamel or receded gums—uncomfortable but manageable conditions. However, sudden or severe sensitivity sometimes signals a more serious problem.
See a dentist promptly if you experience:
- Sensitivity localized to one specific tooth (may indicate a crack or cavity)
- Pain that persists after the trigger is removed
- Sensitivity that's getting rapidly worse
- Visible damage to teeth (chips, cracks, or holes)
- Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
- Pain when biting down
These symptoms suggest decay, infection, or structural damage requiring immediate treatment. Delaying allows minor problems to become major ones requiring root canals, crowns, or extractions.
The Economics of Early Treatment
Desensitizing toothpaste costs £4-£8 and solves sensitivity for many people. Fluoride treatments cost £30-£100 and provide relief for several months. Dental bonding costs £95-£250 per tooth and lasts 5-10 years.
Compare those figures to the cost of ignoring sensitivity until it requires a root canal (£499-£599) plus a crown (£499-£650). Or worse—extraction (£299-£350) followed by an implant (£1,500-£2,600) to replace the lost tooth.
Early intervention with simple treatments prevents expensive procedures later. Enamel doesn't regenerate. Once it's worn away, it's gone permanently. The protective treatments available now prevent further damage and manage symptoms, but they don't restore what's already been lost.
Living With Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity rarely resolves on its own. Without intervention, it gradually worsens as more enamel erodes and more dentin becomes exposed. The discomfort increases, triggering foods and drinks multiply, and eventually even breathing cold air becomes painful.
The progression is preventable. Desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatments, proper brushing technique, and addressing underlying causes (grinding, acidic diet, gum disease) keep sensitivity manageable for most people.
For severe cases, dental bonding or gum grafting provides long-term relief by physically protecting exposed dentin. Root canal treatment remains available as a last resort when sensitivity becomes unbearable despite other interventions.
The key is acting before sensitivity impacts your daily life. If you're avoiding ice cream, wincing when you brush, or dreading cold weather because of tooth pain, effective treatments exist. The solutions are straightforward, reasonably priced, and genuinely effective at restoring normal function.