It’s easy to know when you have sensitive teeth… if they tingle or hurt when eating your favorite ice cream or sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee, it means your teeth are more sensitive than normal. Although many suffer from this problem, few are aware that they have it, and others ignore that it can be treated. Don't let this happen to you! Find out. What is the relationship between ice cream, coffee, and your teeth? It's not that your teeth dislike them; it’s that when you suffer from sensitive teeth, temperature extremes (very cold or very hot) feel even more intense. Ice cream and coffee are good examples, but it also happens with a glass of cold water or soup. You might even feel that same tingle when brushing or flossing. We recommend: How to reduce bad breath Normally, teeth are protected and do not have that hypersensitivity. The enamel covers the crown of the teeth, the white part of your smile. The dental cement protects the roots of the teeth, and the gums cover them. But when that protection is missing, external sensations reach the dentin, which is underneath the enamel and cement, and it transmits them to the internal nerve of the tooth. Ouch! That’s when you feel discomfort and pain. Teeth become sensitive for many reasons. Poor oral hygiene, as well as tartar and age, can wear down the enamel. It can also happen when you fracture a tooth. The most common cause is when your gums recede, meaning they pull back, exposing the root. Your gums can recede if you brush too hard, irritating your gums, or if you develop a gum disease caused by excess bacterial plaque that inflames them and over time destroys their tissue, causing them to detach from the tooth. We recommend: How to whiten yellow teeth Fortunately, sensitive teeth can be treated. Special toothpaste for sensitive teeth is the simplest and most economical treatment. This toothpaste covers your teeth with components that block the transmission of sensations to the nerve. However, this doesn’t happen overnight; you must use it for several weeks to see results. Since there are many brands of toothpaste on the market, choose those that have the approval seal of the American Dental Association. When toothpaste is not enough, your dentist may recommend other treatments. If your problem is due to worn dental enamel, fluoride gel helps strengthen it, thereby reducing the transmission of sensations to the nerves. On the other hand, if your issue is due to receding gums, your dentist can apply a sealant that bonds the gum to the root of the tooth. We recommend: How to remove teeth stains naturally If none of the treatments work for you, it may be that the root of the problem is deeper, meaning the issue lies at the root of your teeth. In that case, you will need a root canal treatment, commonly known as “endodontics.” But don’t worry, as this is not the most common situation. The important thing is to know that there are many solutions for sensitive teeth, and the sooner you discover that you have this problem and start treating it, the better. So, the next time you walk past the ice cream shop, you’ll be able to “sink your teeth” into your favorite ice cream, without fear.