When you have sensitive teeth, eating or drinking anything that’s not at room temperature can cause pain. You might even feel a throbbing sensation when a cold wind blows against your mouth. Tooth sensitivity is a common problem with many possible causes. Before delving into them, it’s important to understand the structure of the tooth.
Tooth Structure and Dental Hypersensitivity
The inside of each of your teeth contains a material called dentin. The dentin has tiny tubules and nerve endings. Each tooth also has a hard-outer layer of enamel that protects the dentin located inside of the top portion of the tooth. We also refer to this part of the tooth as the crown. A layer of cementum protects the dentin that reaches down into the root portion of each of your teeth. The pain of tooth sensitivity occurs when the protective coating of cementum or enamel wears away from the dentin. Acidic, sticky, cold, or hot foods and beverages are common triggers for pain.