# Why are my teeth so sensitive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463 "2002-08-12T02:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/1 "2002-08-12T02:03:32Z")
Well? ---
**Author:** ![JKB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@JKB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/2 "2002-08-12T02:23:03Z")
It depends. Are your teeth sensitive to cold? Sweet? Pressure All your teeth? Or just some of them. Has this been a long term problem or something new? If it’s been that way for years your teeth may be naturally sensitive (I know this doesn’t explain why). A cavity often makes teeth sensitive, especially to sweets. Another problem- if you brush too roughly (or with hard bristles), you can cause your gumlines to recede, exposing more sensitive areas of the teeth. I speak from experience. Better check with a dentist to find out for sure… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/3 "2002-08-12T07:40:47Z")
Apparently as you age, your gums recede, exposing parts of your teeth that are not protected by enamel. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![absimia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbe5ce/32.png) [@absimia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absimia)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/4 "2002-08-12T20:03:55Z")
What **GuanoLad** said is what my dentist told me. I thought for certain that I was infested with cavities (I hadn’t been to the dentist in 7 or so years), but it turned out not to be the case. If it is bothering you, I highly recommend a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. It helped out immensely for me. I buy the Crest™ version because it is the cheapest per ounce and it doesn’t taste awful (unlike the others I tried). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/5 "2002-08-12T20:26:28Z")
Again, the toothpaste you use can make 'em sensitive. It certainly affected mine. Those that are multi-care or anti-plaque are the harshest. Get one specifically for sensitive teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/6 "2002-08-13T02:56:45Z")
Maybe if you talked nicer to them they wouldn’t be so sensitive. Remember teeth have fillings too. Bwa ha ha ha get it? _Fillings too?_ I know, I know. I’m too punny. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/7 "2002-08-13T04:50:27Z")
Maybe they’re still in mourning for the baby teeth. Losing a child is the worst pain imaginable. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/8 "2002-08-13T05:44:55Z")
I found the Sensodyne does nothing for my teeth. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-teeth-so-sensitive/123463/9 "2002-08-13T06:08:07Z")
[It’s all about the microtubules](http://www.rpmdentistry.com/services/toothsensitivity_toothache.asp). See also [Dentral Hygienist News](http://www.dentalcare.com/soap/journals/dh_news/dhn1002/page2.htm): > [@](#): > > Dentin can become sensitive when dentinal tubules are exposed in the oral cavity. Stimulus applied to dentin causes fluid in the dentinal tubules to flow at an increased or decreased rate, causing the odontoblasts to expand or contract to fill in the innermost tubule space. A small portion of the odontoblasts along the nerve fibers extend into the tubules. The reaction of the odontoblasts to the fluid movement caused by the stimulus affects the nerve fibers, which is thought to be the origin of Dentinal Hypersensivity.