Tooth Sensitivity to Hot and Cold: What It Means
Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold — what it means. Brief, mild cold sensitivity is common and usually harmless. But pain that lingers 30+ seconds after cold, new sensitivity to heat, spontaneous pain, or biting sensitivity can signal an inflamed or dying nerve and deserve an endodontic evaluation. 57 seconds.
Video Transcript
Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold — here's what it means. The good news: brief, mild sensitivity to cold is common. It's often caused by worn enamel, gum recession, or whitening treatments — usually harmless and manageable. Warning sign one: pain that lingers 30 or more seconds after the cold is gone. Warning sign two: sensitivity to heat. This often signals that the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or dying. Also watch out for spontaneous pain — aching when doing nothing — and biting sensitivity, a sharp pain upon chewing. Lingering or heat sensitivity deserves an endodontic evaluation. Early treatment is simpler, more comfortable, and saves the tooth. Silicon Valley Endodontics & Microsurgery, Sunnyvale, CA.