My tooth hurts when I eat hot or cold food or drinks

Question:

My tooth hurts whenever I eat hot or cold food or drinks.  If feels like a sharp pain, then it goes away.  What does this mean?

Answer:

This is a sure sign of reversible pulpitis.  The feeling that you are experiencing is caused by exposed dentin.  Remember that dentin is normally covered by enamel (see article on tooth anatomy), if for some reason a portion of dentin is left uncovered, you will usually feel sensations of short, sharp pain when exposed to hot or cold substances.  Exposed dentin can be caused by a cavity, a defective filling/restoration, or recent dental work.  The good news is that this problem can be fixed easily, the dentin just needs to be covered.  Your dentist will be able to give you a filling, simply fix your existing filling, or a pulp cap if necessary.  However, don’t wait too long.  Reversible pulpitis, if left untreated, can turn into irreversible pulpitis.  Unfortunately, irreversible pulpitis can only be treated with root canal therapy, which costs a lot more in the end.  So be sure to act now by visiting your dentist.

Good luck!

Teeth Grinding

Bruxism, or grinding of the teeth, is a fairly common condition that affects a majority of the adult population (estimates range up to 85%).  It usually occurs at night and the individual is completely unaware that he or she is grinding his teeth.  Unfortunately, this bad habit can lead to a host of other dental problems.

How would I know if I grind my teeth?

• Teeth appear worn down or damaged
• Enamel has been worn down exposing a yellow layer (dentin)
• Experience headaches or migraines in the morning or right after waking up
• Frequent earaches
• Ringing in the ears, especially in the morning
• Sensitive teeth
• Have a loved one observe you in your sleep, grinding of the teeth will occur quite frequently throughout the night
• Facial Pain

What causes bruxism?

Causes of bruxism are still under investigation.  However, the most common causes are as follows:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Alcohol
• Sleep disorders
• Malocclusion

How can I treat bruxism?

Effective treatment is still in the research phase.  The best way to prevent and control grinding of the teeth is to wear a nightguard.  This can be purchased over the counter or provided by your dentist.  Also, try to find ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life.  Activities such as deep breathing and yoga have found to be successful in reducing one’s stress level.

Please do not hesitate to visit the dentist if you suspect brusixm.  Grinding of the teeth can lead to several other dental problems including TMJ issues, the need for fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, and even extractions.  Eventually, once the grinding becomes bad, the teeth can loosen and will need to be removed.  This is definitely not an issue to take lightly.

Have more questions?  Feel free to leave a commit or submit a question to be included in our FAQ’s.

Tooth Anatomy

The tooth is composed of 4 layers, the enamel, dentin, cementum, and dental pulp.

What is enamel?

Enamel is the hardest substance in the entire body.  It’s the outside layer of the tooth, completely covers the dentin, and is actually transparent in color.  That means the color of our teeth is due to dentin and not enamel.  However, enamel is comprised of enamel rods which can hold stain quite easily, including red wine, coffee, tea, and cigarettes.

What is enamel comprised of?

Enamel is comprised of 96% calcium hydroxyapatite and 4% organic material and water.  Bone is composed of 50% hydroxyapatite and 50% organic material including collagen, thus making enamel the hardest substance in the body.

If I chip or break enamel, will it repair on its own?

Unfortunatley, enamel does not contain any living cells.  Therefore, if chipped, it will not repair itself.  However, dentin can repair itself if damaged.

What is hydroxyapatite?

Hydroxyapatite is a storage form of calcium in the body.  99% of calcium in bone is stored as hydroxyapatite.  The chemical formula for hydroxyapatite is Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH.

What is dentin?

Dentin makes up the bulk of the tooth.  It completely surrounds the pulp, and is covered by enamel on the crown portion of the tooth, and by cementum on the root of the tooth.  Dentin is usually yellow in color and ultimately determines the color of the tooth, being that enamel is transparent.  Dentin is composed of dentinal tubules that communicate directly with the pulp.  This means that is bacteria reaches the dentin, usually some type of pain will be felt.  Dentin is composed of 65-70% calcium hydroxyapatite, 20-25% organic material, and 10% water.

What is cementum?

Cementum covers dentin on the root surface of the tooth.  Cementum connects the tooth to the periodontal ligaments and is therefore somewhat responsible for securing the tooth in the bone.  It is composed of 50% calcium hydroxyapatite and 50% organic material and water, the same consistency as bone.

What is pulp?

Pulp is the livelihood of the tooth.  Pulp supplies nutrients, blood, and nerves to the tooth.  This means that the pulp is responsible for keeping the dentin, cementum, and dentin strong.

Well what if my pulp is removed with a root canal?

Once bacteria reaches the pulp, depending on how extensive, it’s usually recommended to have the pulp removed.  This is because the pulp communicates directly with the rest of the body, and if harmful bacteria is present in your pulp, and it easily move to other areas of the body, including the brain!!  Please see the article on root canal for further information on this subject.