What Does it Mean When my Tooth Hurts to Cold, Hot, Biting…
My tooth hurts to cold.
My tooth hurts to hot.
My tooth hurts when biting.
My tooth hurts when I walk on the tile floor barefoot or in high heels.
My tooth aches all by itself.
My tooth hurts when I scratch it on the side with my fingernail.
What does it all mean?
There are a wide variety of tooth sensitivities that a person can experience.
Hopefully, you can rest more peacefully tonight, knowing that some of these sensitivities are normal and common!
Remember, we are not able to diagnose you from cyberspace. The SODA we spill for you is here to help you better navigate what you’re feeling and what may, or may not, be the diagnosis for your future.
It’s still extremely important for you to find your honest dentist and have any persistent pain checked out right away.
1. My tooth hurts to sweets, like candy.
A tooth that hurts when you eat sugar is usually a pretty good indicator that you may have a cavity. BUT…this can sometimes just mean that some gum recession/root exposure is reacting to the sugar, or that you are clenching your teeth due to stress, chronic pain, etc.
Keep a close eye on it while you find your honest dentist, and then have your pain checked out.
Fluoride mouthwash, like our favorite ACT brand, is a great reliever for this type of sensitivity and helps prevent cavities as well. You can find the right kind in our recommended products section.
2. My teeth hurt from cold foods/drinks/air
When all of your teeth hurt to cold or air, you can rest assured knowing that this is THE most common, most normal sensitivity there is. It can truly mean nothing more than pure self-infliction has taken place.
It’s highly unlikely that every tooth in your mouth came down with a problem all of a sudden. It’s MORE likely that you are self-inflicting something on every poor tooth in your mouth, like clenching or grinding your teeth.
Are you under extra stress recently? Did you just buy a hard or medium toothbrush accidentally? Are you having sinus problems?
Cold sensitivity is common when we have sinus problems, are stressed, are clenching and grinding our teeth, are brushing too hard, after bleaching, etc….Especially if the entire mouth is reacting to the cold stimulus.
Ask yourself these questions, and then pay attention to the sensitivity. If it lasts more than a few weeks or seems to be worsening or unbearable, definitely get it checked out by your honest dentist.
In the meantime, ACT fluoride mouthwash would be the best product to help. We have found that fluoride is the most effective tool for sensitivity over the desensitizing chemicals found in sensitive toothpaste. Fluoride coats your teeth with a protective layer, blocking the cold sensitivity from reaching your nerve. SODA believes in TOPICAL fluoride, not ingesting fluoride.
3. If I have a SINGLE tooth that hurts to cold consistently
Do you have a single tooth with cold sensitivity that hasn’t gone away in the past few weeks? Does it “talk to you” regularly? If so, this sounds like something more consistent, and you should have checked out by your honest dentist.
Another good rule of thumb is, if you feel the need to take something for the pain, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you should definitely make an appointment to have that tooth checked out.
A tooth with a problem will keep telling you there is a problem. If it goes away, that’s a good sign.
Try ACT fluoride mouthwash to help. (found in our recommended products section) If it doesn’t help, you need to see your honest dentist.
4. If my tooth hurts from WARM or HOT foods/drinks
A tooth that hurts to warm or hot things usually signals the need for a root canal. It indicates a much larger cavity has been allowed to grow or that your tooth has cracked.
It’s a sign that the problem has reached the nerve, and there could be an infection. Definitely make an appointment with your honest dentist to have this tooth looked at! It’s important and it is very unlikely that this tooth will get better.
Simply taking an antibiotic will not solve the problem. It will clear the infection for the time being, but the decay is still there and growing, or the crack is still there and will allow more bacteria to come right back in. You’re only prolonging the inevitable, so please believe your honest dentist when they explain that to you. The problem needs to be dealt with, and the earlier dental problems are addressed, the better….ALWAYS!
Root canals are not scary like the old stories tell. Many patients report that they’re kind of peaceful now even! Click to read more about root canals.
Remember the good rule of thumb. If you feel the need to take something for the pain, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, definitely make an appointment to have that pain checked out.
5. If my tooth hurts when I bite down but does not hurt from temperature
Tooth sensitivity when biting down can also be a normal reaction to clenching and grinding. This would be something to watch and/or have your honest dentist check.
Sometimes your bite can be off. Did you recently have work completed on that tooth or the tooth above/below it? Have you been clenching or grinding possibly? Do you have orthodontic braces that are possibly putting some pressure on a tooth?
Any time we put a lot of pressure on a tooth, we are essentially bruising it, and it will talk to us until we stop putting that pressure on it.
Tooth sensitivity is normal after you have a filling or crown placed, or of course, after your braces are adjusted. It should gradually get better, though. It shouldn’t last longer than a few days, or up to 2 weeks tops.
If the pain DOES last longer than 2 weeks, your new restoration may have a “high spot” as things have settled, and you’re knocking on it every time you bite down. This will cause your tooth to feel bruised as well and can lead to biting sensitivity and aching. It’s an easy fix. Your honest dentist will re-check your bite and adjust it as necessary.
If you’ve had a root canal recently, these teeth can remain a little sensitive for up to 6 months. Only a LITTLE sensitive, though. It should gradually get better. The nerves were removed from the tooth during the root canal, but they’re still right there in your jaw bone or maxillary bone underneath, right at the tip of the tooth’s root. When you bite down hard enough, you can still hit that nerve ending until it pulls itself away from the area.
Did you recently bite down on something hard like an almond or a rock in your salad? This can be good or bad. Watch the sensitivity. If it subsides after a few days, you probably just irritated and bruised the tooth.
If it DOESN’T subside, you may have cracked the tooth. You’ll need your honest dentist’s opinion on what to do next. He or she will have to analyze your symptoms and examine the tooth to see if the crack can be detected.
Some cracks can be fixed with fillings, and some can be fixed with crowns. Some can’t be fixed at all. It depends upon which direction they run and how far they go.
Don’t chew on ice, ever. Be kind to your teeth.
6. If I have tooth pain that LINGERS for minutes or longer after being triggered by temperature or biting down
Lingering pain usually signals a larger issue which may require a root canal. It can also indicate that your tooth may have cracked. If you bite down or touch your tooth with something cold or hot, and get a pain that lingers for a minute or more afterward, schedule that appointment with your honest dentist without delay. It’s important!
This is a sign that the problem has reached the nerve, and there could be an infection. You most likely need a root canal to save the tooth.
Simply taking an antibiotic will not solve the problem. It will clear the infection for the time being, but the decay is still there and growing, or the crack is still there. More bacteria will come right back. You’re only prolonging the inevitable, so believe your honest dentist when they explain that to you. The problem needs to be dealt with, and the earlier dental problems are addressed, the better….ALWAYS!
Remember the good rule of thumb again. If you feel the need to take something for the pain, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, definitely make an appointment to have that pain checked out.
7. If I have a single tooth with pain that aches on its OWN, WITHOUT anything triggering it
A flat-out achy tooth is usually not a good sign. This, too, could mean that a root canal is in your future, that your tooth has cracked, or that you have a periodontal infection. Go see your honest dentist immediately. You do not want to allow the infection to continue in your body.
Pay attention to whether it is truly the tooth or whether it could be the gums. Sometimes if you get a popcorn kernel or another type of food stuck down under your gum line, the area can become achy.
Start flossing like crazy and swishing with some warm salt water to see if it helps. Water picks are also great for flushing debris and plaque out, which the floss sometimes skips over.
Simply taking an antibiotic will not solve the problem if you indeed have a tooth infection. It will clear the infection for the time being, but the decay is still there and growing, or the crack is still there. More bacteria will come right back.
You’re only prolonging the inevitable, so believe your honest dentist when they explain that to you. The problem needs to be dealt with, and the earlier dental problems are addressed, the better….ALWAYS!
Remember the good rule of thumb. If you feel the need to take something for the pain, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, definitely make an appointment to have that pain checked out. It’s more than just a little sensitivity.
8. My teeth hurt everywhere, all of the time!
Good news! You didn’t all of a sudden get a cavity on every tooth in your head! When your entire mouth hurts, it’s usually a sign that you have done, or are doing, something to cause it.
You may be clenching your teeth due to stress or anxiety. People do this day or night. If you wake up with jaw tightness or headaches, you could likely be clenching your teeth at night. It would benefit you to visit your honest dentist and have a night guard made.
Note: Soft nightguards you can make at home are not effective because they cause your jaw to want to bite and chew on it more. It will help protect your teeth for a while but will not help your jaw or muscles. Excessive chewing and clenching on these can cause TMJ problems.
If you’re clenching during the day, try to catch yourself and talk yourself out of it. Clenching can make all of your teeth sensitive and can also cause you to crack a tooth.
You could have sinus problems. Sinus problems are most likely to affect the upper teeth because the roots of the upper teeth are up in your sinus cavity! Any sinus pressure can make those teeth feel achy and sensitive. Sometimes sinus pressure makes you clench as well, and the bottom teeth get sensitive too!
You could be brushing too hard. No medium or hard toothbrushes either.
If your toothbrush looks like it’s going flat….you ARE brushing too hard. You should be able to use that brush for 100 years and never see it fray out…We have a whole SODA article spilled for you on how to brush correctly. Check it out if you have a minute!
You could be eating more acidic foods all of a sudden, like oranges, tomatoes, soda-pop (not our SODA), or pineapple….If you’re consuming more of these things lately, try swishing with water afterward to lower the acidity level in your mouth. Brush if you can, but swishing with water is usually the more available option. Using an ACT fluoride mouthwash will help if this is your issue. You can find it in our Product Advice section.
You may have bleached your teeth too long. Your teeth will tell you when you’re overdoing it with the bleach. Stop when they get sensitive and swish with some ACT fluoride mouthwash to close up the tubules that have been exposed during bleaching. These tubules carry the temperature and other stimuli straight into your nerve, so fluoride rebuilds a protective layer to fill and cover those tubules back up.
Fluoride mouthwash or Sensitive toothpaste (not for prolonged use, however) are two helpful products that can be purchased over the counter to help with generalized sensitivity. SODA typically prefers fluoride mouthwash over sensitive toothpaste.
Sensitive toothpaste tends to be a bit abrasive, ironically, which can ADD to the sensitivity. When a toothpaste adds a “whitening” agent, they’re typically adding an abrasive. So keep that in mind. It’s almost comical when I see a “sensitive/whitening” toothpaste. Abrasives can cause more sensitivity because you’re now scrubbing your teeth with sand to remove stains. Choose the original, fewer ingredient, non-whitening, sensitive toothpaste only if you prefer toothpaste over mouthwash.
9. My tooth hurts when I walk on the hard floor barefoot or in high heels
This sensitivity took us a while to figure out. We heard this complaint, all of a sudden, multiple times, out of nowhere! In each and every case, the tooth happened to be an upper tooth, and the culprit was sinus pressure.
As these patients were walking across hard surfaces with heavy-footed steps, their sinuses were bouncing with the pressure, and it was making their teeth sensitive.
Do you have sinus pressure? Allergies? If it continues and doesn’t get better, go see your honest dentist and have them check things out.
10. My tooth hurts when I scratch the side of it with my fingernail.
Well, don’t do that then! LOL. Just kidding. We get this one a lot.
This usually means that you have a bit of recession in that area. You are scratching your root surface right near your gumline, triggering the sensitivity. Your root surface is not covered by the thick enamel layer, so it becomes sensitive more easily.
This area can become more sensitive if you are clenching or grinding, eating more acidic foods, bleaching your teeth, or…..brushing too hard.
Don’t brush too hard! This is the most common reason your root surface will get this sensitivity. Check out the SODA we spilled for you on the proper way to brush. Your toothbrush should NEVER look flattened out.
ACT mouthwash should help this sensitivity as well. It can be found in our Product Advice section. Swish for one minute at night before bed. :)
11. My front teeth hurt when I bite into ice cream or cold things
Normal. From kids and the ice cream man to adults with their tubs of ice cream on the couch. This is pretty much a normal sensitivity across the board. If it aches unbearably, though, have your honest dentist look into it.
12. …I’m not sure if it’s my tooth or my gums
This is a harder one. Do you have food cramming in a specific area? Have you eaten popcorn recently? Maybe you have an area of inflammation, gum disease, or periodontal disease? If so, your gum tissue can ache like a toothache.
If the pain is at the back of your mouth, do you still have your wisdom teeth? The majority of wisdom teeth should be wisely removed during the teenage years. If not, they can cause aching problems in your later years. You’ll need to have them removed then, when recovery won’t be quite as easy.
If you don’t have room for them, take them out according to the honest oral surgeon’s recommendations. If you DO have room, you’d better be an expert brusher and flosser, or those puppies are sure to have problems later because they’re too far back to be able to clean properly. In most cases, wisdom teeth are good for nothing teeth. Most people don’t clean them well. They end up coming out the hard way by developing cavities or periodontal disease.
Is the painful area on your gum tissue showing a white circle lesion maybe? Did you nick your gums with a chip at the Mexican food restaurant? Burn your gums with hot pizza or soup? Have you been eating more oranges or tomatoes or other acidic foods lately? Are you under more stress than usual? All of these things can cause canker sores to form in various places of your mouth, and they HURT!!!
Canker sores are different than cold sores. They are not associated with the herpes virus and are not contagious. They form with a combination of trauma and bacteria. They usually subside within two weeks at the most. Warm salt water rinses help to heal them, and there are over-the-counter products such as Kanka and Orajel that help numb the pain.
Peroxyl is also a great healing mouthwash. You can find it in our Product Advice section.
If you ever have a sore that lasts for longer than two weeks, have it checked by your honest dentist without a doubt.
13. I have a squishy “blister” or bubble on my gums…
These usually appear on the outside of your gums but are occasionally found inward…
If you have one, you most likely have an infected tooth that needs attention right away. That bubble is an abscess.
An abscess forms when your tooth is infected. The infection, aka puss, is trying to escape. Sometimes abscesses form without any pain at all. Sometimes there is definite pain along with them. Sometimes they come and go, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore them.
Taking antibiotics will get rid of the infection for the time being, but the problem with your tooth is still there. You’ll only be prolonging the inevitable. It’s likely to get worse and worse, the longer you let it go. Go see your honest dentist right away and let them help you.
Important to note: If your “bubble” isn’t squishy but is hard as a rock instead, like bone, you’re in luck.! Hard, bony growths on the side of your gums are called “tori” (inside) and “exostoses” (outside).
They’re most commonly found on the bottom arch, inside, by your tongue, and they are normal!!! It’s important that you have them checked by your honest dentist , though, just to make sure, but you’re most likely in the clear there.
What can I do to help the sensitivity?
Fluoride mouthwash or sensitive toothpaste (not for prolonged use, however) are two helpful products that you can purchase over the counter to help with generalized sensitivity.
We tend to prefer the fluoride mouthwash, as it also helps prevent cavities, over the sensitive toothpaste. The toothpaste can tend to be a bit abrasive and ADD to the sensitivity in the long run. When a toothpaste adds a “whitening” agent, they’re typically adding an abrasive. Abrasives can cause more sensitivity because you’re essentially now scrubbing your teeth with sand to remove stains. So keep that in mind.
Watching patients over the years, we have noticed some unexplainable erosion on patients’ root surfaces. Their gum tissue is still there, but there is erosion on the root surfaces up and underneath the gum line. We have only been able to hypothesize that it may have something to do with an ingredient used in sensitive toothpaste.
These patients all used sensitive toothpaste, long-term, in one form or another. The periodontist that we work closely with also reported similar findings, so we only recommend using sensitive toothpaste for up to two weeks at a time.
More severe tooth pain can only be relieved using pain medication and possibly tooth gels like Ambesol. This is only going to help get you through, though, until you can see your honest dentist. The problem needs to be fixed for the pain to go away.
Though it would be best if we did, we’ll never claim to know it all, all of the time. Nobody knows it all! We do claim honesty, though, and we sincerely want to help as many people as we can! Our patients have maintained beautifully, following our conservative recommendations :)
Remember, we cannot diagnose you from cyberspace. It’s important to find that honest dentist and keep them close.
So, thanks so much for reading and letting us spill our SODA! Remember to take the time to find your HONEST DENTIST, and be sure to browse around our links and follow us on social media for answers to more of your exciting dental questions, like:
