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Tooth Troubles
A short, sharp feeling when something cold, hot or sweet reaches a tooth. This page explains what sensitivity is and what a dentist may do. It does not work out the cause of your child’s sensitivity — that needs an examination.
Sensitivity is a brief, sharp response to something reaching the tooth — typically cold, sometimes sweet, sometimes touch. It differs from the deeper, longer ache people usually mean by toothache, though the two can occur together and the distinction is not always obvious from the outside.
It is common enough that dentistry has treatments aimed specifically at it. The AAPD notes that the FDA approved silver diamine fluoride as a device for reducing tooth sensitivity, which is a reminder that sensitivity is a recognised condition in its own right rather than only a symptom of something else.
That quick zing when you drink something cold is your tooth telling you it is a bit sensitive. It usually stops as fast as it starts. Tell a grown-up if it keeps happening.
Sensitivity and pain are not the same thing and it is worth describing them separately when you ring. A short sharp response to cold is different information from a dull ache that lingers, and dentists use that difference. Describe what you notice rather than trying to name it.
Broadly, sensitivity involves something reaching the inner part of the tooth more easily than it should. The AAPD material touches several routes to that, and only examination can establish which applies:
Several of those can be present at once, and some are visible only on an X-ray. That is the reason this page describes rather than diagnoses.
Three things worth knowing before the appointment.
Sensitivity is a recognised target of treatment rather than something to endure. The AAPD notes the FDA approved silver diamine fluoride as a Class II device specifically for reducing tooth sensitivity, and fluoride has its own role.
Sensitivity may be the first noticeable sign of a problem that is not yet obvious. That is a reason to mention it at a checkup rather than to wait until it becomes painful.
If the feeling is not brief — if it lingers, throbs, wakes your child, or comes with swelling — that is different information. See Tooth pain and ring your dentist.
Expect an examination and probably X-rays, since several of the possible causes are not visible directly. What follows depends entirely on what is found.
Mention it at the next checkup if it is mild and occasional. Ring sooner if it is getting worse, if it is affecting eating or drinking, or if it has changed character — particularly if a brief zing has become a lasting ache.
This page does not set a threshold for when to ring, because that depends on your child. If you are unsure, a phone call to the practice will settle it faster than any web page.
Should we use a sensitivity toothpaste? Ask your dentist before starting one, particularly for a child. Products for sensitivity are formulated for adults unless stated otherwise, and masking a symptom can delay finding what is behind it. The site’s Toothpaste by age page covers what is appropriate at different ages.
It can be, and it can be several other things. The AAPD describes decay as demineralising tooth structure before any hole is visible, so sensitivity can precede anything you could see. Whether that is what is happening here needs an examination.
The AAPD notes that newly erupted teeth have immature enamel, which is part of why children’s teeth are considered differently from adults’. Whether that explains your child’s sensitivity is a question for your dentist rather than an assumption to make.
Sometimes, and that is not by itself reassuring — the same is true of pain from a pulp that is dying. Mention it even if it has settled, and let the dentist decide whether it matters.
Diet is relevant to enamel wear — the AAPD names dietary erosion among the causes of enamel loss it distinguishes from grinding. What that means for your child is worth discussing at an appointment. There is general guidance on Diet and snacking.
That is common and it is not a reason to dismiss it. The AAPD relies on examination together with radiographs precisely because a great deal is not visible from outside. Believe your child and book an appointment.
Every clinical statement on this page comes from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry documents below.
This website is for education only and does not replace care from your dentist, physician, or emergency services.