Why Does My Tooth Hurt When I Drink Something Cold?

Have you ever caught yourself eyeballing that delicious, creamy, smooth ice cream cone or the bubbly, fizzy glass of soda with ice cubes clinking, only to turn it down because you know it’s going to make your teeth hurt?

Ahh, the dilemma. Sweet, cold yumminess and an instant toothache, or the pain of saying no. Why does it have to be this way?

Here, we’ll explain what happens when you drink or eat something cold and why it might be making your tooth hurt. Armed with this knowledge, you may be able to fix the problem easily and go back to enjoying life with your favorite chilly treats.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

We’ve all had the occasional reaction to eating or drinking something cold or hot. The irritation usually goes away quickly. But if it happens frequently, there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

Tooth sensitivity occurs when a nerve or root is exposed. The root of a tooth connects to the jawbone via periodontal ligaments, which act as anchors that prevent your teeth from moving. The root holds blood vessels and nerves, or “dental pulp.”

Think of the root as an electric cable strung from pole to pole. When it’s covered and in place, the inside wiring is barely noticeable. But if something happens to either end, the wires are exposed, and the result can be painful and dangerous.

Teeth are strategically designed to keep this from happening:

• The crown: The visible part of the tooth, made up of enamel (which is stronger than bone), is your first layer of defense. Enamel protects the teeth above the gum line.
• Dentin: Under the enamel, dentin is a porous material that recognizes pressure and temperature and is responsible for the yellowish shade of your teeth. Healthy dentin blocks bacteria from entering the pulp chamber, where your roots are located.
• Cementum: The outer layer of the roots, cementum, is softer (less dense) than enamel and easily exposed from gum recession.

That’s why gum disease, whether gingivitis or periodontitis, usually comes with tooth sensitivity as a side effect. But it’s not the only reason your teeth could be sensitive. Let’s look at the other frequent culprits.

Enamel Erosion

The leading cause of tooth sensitivity is enamel erosion. As the hardest substance in your body, it’s difficult to lose enamel, but it does occur as we age. Other factors, such as teeth grinding (bruxism) and poor dental hygiene, can contribute to enamel loss.

This protective barrier can’t regenerate, so it’s vital to take care of your teeth with good brushing habits and a night guard to protect your enamel.

Exposed Dentin

Dentin is composed of tiny tubules that are connected to the nerve of the tooth. Enamel protects the porous openings from:

• Heat
• Cold
• Pressure
• Bacteria

When enamel erodes, dentin is exposed, allowing outside stimuli to reach the nerve. This leads to that sharp, stabbing pain you’re feeling. Exposed dentin is caused by:

• Tooth decay
• Aggressive brushing
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Cavities

Cavities stem from tooth decay, which weakens the outer layer of enamel. Once eroded, the dentin is exposed, which lets in painful sensations to the nerves.

More importantly, exposed dentin from tooth decay means harmful bacteria have access to the dental pulp, leading to infection if the problem isn’t treated quickly.

Gum Recession

Receding gums and tooth sensitivity are often linked together. Your gums and cementum are supposed to protect the tooth roots from receiving signals to the nerves that cause pain and sensitivity. Gum recession exposes the roots, leaving them vulnerable to hot and cold temperatures.

Sugary and Acidic Foods

When you eat sugary or acidic foods, the particles left behind slowly cause enamel erosion. Acid from citrus and other foods, as well as bacteria that feed on sugar, can further increase the acidity of your mouth. Without regular dental care, the extra acidity weakens enamel and exposes the dentin and roots.

Sinus Infections

Could your toothache be coming from a sinus infection? Before you rush to dental solutions, let’s talk about that for a second.

Your molars (upper back teeth) are located very close to the sinus cavities. When your maxillary sinuses (in the upper jaw) are inflamed, the pressure pushes on the molar teeth roots, irritating the nerves around them.

The result? Pain and sensitivity, especially to heat and cold. In these cases, you need to treat the sinuses, not the teeth.

Temporary or Big Deal: How Do You Know If You Should Be Concerned When Your Tooth Hurts?

Although any toothache is something to pay attention to, it’s not always a call for an emergency dental visit.

Some sensitivity is temporary. If you recently had a whitening treatment or switched to teeth whitening toothpaste, that could be the cause of your increased sensitivity.

If yours disappears after a day or two without treatment, it may have been a random irritation or low-grade sinus inflammation that went away on its own. On the other hand, if your pain lasts more than a couple of days, it’s time to investigate further.

When Your Toothache is More Than an Irritation

You’ve taken over-the-counter (OTC) pain meds, stopped using whitening toothpaste, and avoided all acidic/sugary/cold foods for two days. Yet, the pain is still there.

What’s going on? Look at the other symptoms you notice along with the pain, such as:

• Morning headaches, neck pain, and jaw discomfort, along with tooth sensitivity, could mean you’re grinding your teeth or have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) starting.
• Upper teeth discomfort, earaches, and forehead pressure could stem from a sinus infection.
• Teeth sensitivity with bleeding gums may be a sign of gum disease or shifting teeth. (Learn more: 8 Signs Your Teeth Are Shifting)
• Pain following an impact to the jaw or face area could be a sign of serious injury, such as a cracked or chipped tooth.

These warning signs point you in the direction of your potential solution, whether you’re seeking natural remedies, immediate relief, or a long-term answer.

How Can You Relieve Sensitive Teeth?

It’s hard to say which is worse: the shooting, stabbing pain of an irritated nerve causing your toothache, or the low-grade, throbbing, ongoing discomfort that doesn’t quite stay far enough in the background to ignore.

Either way, you want immediate relief. However, a surface-level treatment isn’t always the best solution. It may make the pain go away so you can get on with your day, but if you don’t treat the cause, it could worsen and become dangerous.

Immediate Relief

Still, it’s easier to tackle a serious problem when you’re not distracted by the pain. For quick relief from a toothache, try one of these home remedies.

Saltwater Rinse

A saltwater rinse is the simplest and — often most effective — pain reliever.

The mixture reduces inflammation, which relieves pressure on the nerves. The rinse can dislodge any debris trapped in the gums or tooth that could be increasing the pain. Salt also acts as an alkaline, neutralizing the acidic environment that attracts bacteria.

Mix a ¼ tsp of salt with a cup of water and swish a mouthful for 30 seconds, then spit it out. Save the extra solution, and repeat up to 4 times per day.

Clove Oil

Clove oil isn’t found in everyone’s cupboards, but if you’re prone to toothaches, it’s a good idea to keep this ingredient on hand. The natural remedy’s active ingredient, eugenol, has been used to treat toothaches for centuries.

Eugenol binds to pain receptors, acting as an analgesic (pain reliever). It also has anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling and antibacterial abilities to fight infections.

To use clove oil, dilute a few drops in olive, coconut, or another carrier oil. Dip a cotton ball in the diluted oil and apply it to the affected tooth.

Alternatively, you can create a clove oil solution by mixing a few drops into 8 oz. of warm water or ¼ cup of coconut oil and swishing the mixture like mouthwash.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract’s active ingredient for toothache is alcohol. Applied to the tooth, it blocks pain signals and causes a temporary numbness. But vanilla also has healing and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to its antioxidants.

For an easy pain reliever, add vanilla extract to a cotton ball or your clean fingertip, and apply to the painful tooth.

Cold Compress

How about freezing the pain away?

When you use a cold compress for 15-20 minutes on the affected area, it reduces pain signals to the brain by numbing the nerve endings. Ice also reduces inflammation and increases blood circulation.

This temporary effect could be just enough to get you past the discomfort and back to your day. You can use an ice pack multiple times a day for the first 24-72 hours of pain. Beyond that, cold therapy loses its impact, and it’s important to seek further help.

Long-Term Treatment Strategies

Short of completely avoiding anything that could irritate your toothache forever (Goodbye, creamy ice cream cones and hot chocolate), what can you do long-term?

These strategies, combined with ongoing oral health routines, can minimize temperature-induced tooth discomfort.

Soft-Bristled Toothbrush

What kind of toothbrush are you using?

If it doesn't have soft bristles, it might be causing enamel wear. Unless your dentist advises otherwise, switch from a hard-bristle toothbrush to a soft one. (And ease up on the aggressive brushing — soft, gentle circles work just fine!)

Desensitizing Toothpaste

Active ingredients, such as potassium nitrate, are the power behind desensitizing toothpaste. Used consistently, this type of toothpaste blocks the brain from sending pain signals to the tooth.

In essence, the ingredients “plug” the tubules in the dentin, keeping debris and temperature changes from passing through and irritating the nerves.

Dental Treatments

Sometimes, you need more help than you can get from at-home TLC. With concerns about infection, tooth loss, and gum recession from untreated toothaches, ongoing pain warrants a trip to the dentist.

Your discomfort might be related to a serious dental health issue, needing solutions like:

• Sealants for signs of cavities: Sealants prevent cavities from forming by creating a barrier over the top groove of the tooth. This barrier keeps food particles and bacteria from getting trapped and spreading decay.
• Veneers: Toothaches caused by cracked or chipped teeth or enamel erosion can be reduced with veneers. These treatments create a protective barrier over the front surface of the damaged tooth, restoring its structural integrity and preventing more damage.
• Gum graft: Roots exposed by receding gums are especially painful and prone to infection. A gum graft involves taking healthy tissue from one area and attaching it to the damaged area, thereby protecting the tooth roots.
• Fluoride treatments: Fluoride is a mineral essential for strengthening tooth enamel. If your fluoride levels are low, treatments can remineralize lost minerals and help reduce decay.

Dental treatments are usually quick and relatively painless. However, when dental pulp is infected or damaged, the inflammation and infection can cause severe pain.

At that stage, a root canal can save the tooth from decay and alleviate the discomfort. After the root is cleaned, it’s filled and sealed to prevent future problems. If the pulp is untreated, the result is usually tooth loss or a forced dental extraction.

Night Guard

Tooth sensitivity combined with fatigue, jaw pain, and other muscle aches is often related to bruxism (teeth grinding). Grinding is a secondary response to an underlying condition, such as stress or excessive stimulation.

While you’re working on a solution to the cause of your bruxism, a night guard (often called a mouthguard) can protect your enamel from the damage of ongoing jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

Shop Our Night Guards Today

When Should You See a Dentist For Sensitive Teeth?

Maybe your short and long-term solutions didn’t work — or were just temporary stopgaps between cold drinks. But the next time you indulged in a sweet treat, the pain was back.

What can you do to make the problem go away?

When You Should Schedule a Dental Appointment

If nothing is helping or there are more serious dental health issues, it may be time to see a dentist. In between checkups, call your dentist if you notice any of the following:

• Persistent pain (3-4 days or more)
• Pain that doesn’t go away with the above strategies
• Severe pain
• Pain localized to a specific tooth
• Visible damage to a tooth or bleeding gums

When You Should Seek Urgent Assistance

Urgent care is advised if you have swelling in the gums, neck, jaw, or face, difficulty opening your mouth, or a fever with your toothache.

Signs of visible pus near the gums or tooth mean there’s an infection (abscess) that needs to be treated, likely with antibiotics. Persistent or radiating pain, or discomfort with a bad taste or bleeding in the mouth, are warning signs to get to a doctor quickly.

Toothaches following a traumatic injury (sporting event, accident, fight) should never be ignored. The tooth could be damaged, loose, or barely hanging on. A cracked tooth isn’t always visible from the outside. Head to the emergency dentist or hospital for advice on how to save the tooth.

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Conclusion

The treatment plan for a sensitive tooth varies from person to person. Yours may be simple avoidance of cold beverages and a boosted oral hygiene routine for a little while, or it might mean you need professional help to avoid worn enamel or exposed roots.

While you’re narrowing down the reason for your throbbing or sharp pain, a custom-made night guard can save your enamel and muscles from the side effects of grinding. Visit us at JS Dental Lab to see why our professional night guards are the first line of defense for bruxers everywhere.