If your teeth are super sensitive to heat, cold, and sweets, you may wonder if you have major tooth decay or something else. You could actually have a dental condition called dentin hypersensitivity. Dentin hypersensitivity occurs in people who suffer from extra sensitive teeth. Learn more about dentin hypersensitivity and how you can fix it below.

What's Dentin Hypersensitivity?

Dentin hypersensitivity occurs when something partially or completely exposes the dentin in your tooth crowns, such as gum disease, acid erosion, or severe mouth trauma. Dentin is the thick, yellowish tissue that sits directly beneath the tooth enamel. Although dentin doesn't contain nerves, blood vessels, and other living tissues, it does contain tiny holes called tubules.

If something touches, stimulates, or passes through the tubules on your dentin, it can irritate the nerves and blood vessels inside your teeth. The irritation can be so severe that it causes hypersensitivity in the tooth. Your teeth may feel extremely sensitive when you brush or floss them, or when you consume something hot, cold, or sweet. 

The best way to handle hypersensitive teeth is to see a dentist for treatment. 

How Do You Treat Dentin Hypersensitivity?

A dentist will need to examine your teeth crowns to diagnose you properly. A provider may use a small dental tool, such as a pick or ruler, to measure the area between your teeth crowns and gum line. Dentin hypersensitivity may develop in people who have loose or receding gum lines. The condition can also affect individuals who develop cavities around their gum lines. 

If your gum recession is behind your sensitive teeth, a dentist will provide ongoing treatment to you. Gum recession requires regular care to repair. If you don't receive regular care for your gums, they can become infected with bacteria and lead to periodontal disease.

If decay is the culprit behind your hypersensitive teeth, a dentist will most likely fill the cavities in your teeth. The type of fillings you need may depend on the location of the decay in your teeth.

For example, if you have decay directly above your gum line, a dentist may use a regular or traditional white filling to repair it. However, decay below the gum line can be trickier to repair. A dentist may need to repair the tooth with root canal treatment before they fill it. A provider will always keep you informed about your treatment before they proceed with it.

Learn more about hypersensitive teeth and how you can repair your teeth by consulting a dentist today.