If a taste of ice cream or a sip of coffee is sometimes painful or if brushing or flossing makes you wince occasionally, you may have a problem called "sensitive teeth". Some of the causes include tooth decay, a cracked tooth, worn tooth enamel, worn fillings and tooth roots that are exposed as a result of aggressive tooth brushing, gum recession and periodontal (gum) disease.

A layer of enamel, the strongest substance in the body, protects the crown portion of healthy teeth. A layer called cementum protects the tooth root under the gum line. Underneath the enamel and the cementum is dentin, a part of the tooth tat is less dense than enamel or cementum.

The dentin contains microscopic tubules (small hollow tubes or canals). If the dentin loses its protective covering, the tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to stimulate the nerves and cells inside the tooth. This may cause hypersensitivity and occasional discomfort when you chew, drink cold or hot liquids, or when you breathe through your mouth.

Proper oral hygiene is an important step in preventing tooth decay, periodontal disease and pain from sensitive teeth. If you brush your teeth incorrectly or brush too aggressively, you may create gingival (gum) recession and expose potentially sensitive tooth root surfaces.

Minute fracture lines may develop in the enamel resulting in a tooth being sensitive to temperature and often times to ordinary chewing. These fracture lines develop over time and are generally the function of repeated pressure from eating ordinary food. The fractures generally occur in posterior (back) teeth around large fillings or sometimes in the grooves and crevices of the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth.

Periodontal disease, an infection of the gums and bone that support the teeth,m also may be responsible for sensitivity,. If periodontal disease is left untreated, gum tissue can separate from the teeth and from spaces called "pockets" that provide a home for bacteria. Regular dental checkups are important so that tooth decay, periodontal disease and other problems may be detected and treated in the early stages.

Sensitive teeth can be treated. Depending on the cause, your dentist may suggest that you try desensitizing toothpaste, which contains compounds that help block sensation traveling from the tooth surface to the nerve. If the de-sensitizing toothpaste does not ease your discomfort, your dentist may suggest a fluoride gel or special desensitizing agent be applied to the sensitive areas of the affected teeth.

When these measures do not correct the problem, your dentist may recommend other treatments, such as a filling, a crown, an inlay or bonding to correct a flaw or decay that results in sensitivity. The type of treatment will depend on what is causing the sensitivity.

If gum tissue has been lost from the root (gum recession), your dentist may recommend a thin coating of bonded composite be placed on the affected areas. In severe cases the dentist may recommend a surgical gum graft be placed to protect the root surface. In cases in which hypersensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means. Your dentist may recommend endodontic (root canal) treatment to eliminate the problem.