Buzz
On a typical day, your teeth can easily break down tough steak or crush hard candy without you feeling discomfort. But every now and then, something as innocent as sipping a cold milkshake can send a jolt of pain through your tooth, leaving you wincing more than if you’d stubbed your toe.
According to Live Science, this sensitivity is a protective response we've developed to safeguard damaged teeth from further harm.
“Eating something too hot or chewing something too cold, or if the tooth wears down enough to expose the underlying tissue, all of these trigger pain,” Julius Manz, spokesperson for the American Dental Association and director of the San Juan College dental hygiene program, explained to Live Science. “The pain then causes the person to avoid using that tooth, helping to shield it a bit more.”
Teeth consist of three distinct layers: the enamel on the outer surface, pulp at the core, and dentin in between. The pulp, which houses nerves and blood vessels, is the part that feels pain. However, the other two layers play a role as well. When the enamel, which is non-living and insensitive, wears down, it exposes the dentin. This tissue allows hot or cold substances to trigger the nerves in the pulp. While the pulp doesn't sense temperature, it interprets these sensations as pain.
However, if you're experiencing tooth pain, the pulp might not be the sole source. The periodontal ligament, which connects the teeth to the jawbone, is also capable of sensing pain. As Manz points out, the discomfort people sometimes feel after orthodontic treatments, like braces, typically originates from the periodontal ligament, not the pulp.
To help prevent tooth pain in the future, here are seven tips for maintaining healthier teeth.
