What’s causing it?
| What you feel | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Brief twinge with cold in several teeth | Exposed dentine from worn enamel or receding gums |
| Twinge when brushing at the gum line | Exposed roots, often from hard brushing |
| Sweet foods hurt one tooth | Decay |
| Pain on biting, or when releasing a bite | Cracked tooth or a high filling |
| Sensitivity after whitening | Temporary; settles in a day or two |
| Sensitivity after a new filling | Common for a few days or weeks |
| Lingering or throbbing pain | Inflamed nerve; may need a root canal |
What you can do at home
- Use a sensitivity toothpaste twice a day, every day, for at least two to four weeks.
- Brush gently with a soft brush. Scrubbing wears enamel and pushes gums back.
- Wait an hour after acidic food or drink (citrus, cola, wine, nimbu pani) before brushing.
- Drink acidic drinks through a straw, or with meals rather than sipping all day.
- Wear a night guard if you grind.
Treatment at the clinic
- Finding the cause. We examine each tooth, check the gums and bite, and take X-rays if needed, so that decay or a crack isn’t missed.
- Desensitising varnish or gel painted onto the sensitive areas to seal the tubules in the dentine.
- Bonding a thin layer of tooth-coloured filling over exposed roots or worn notches at the gum line.
- Gum grafts by our periodontist, when recession has exposed roots. See receding gums treatment.
- Fixing the problem tooth: a filling, crown or root canal when decay, a crack or the nerve is the cause.
- A night guard for grinding. See splints and night guards.
What affects the fee
How many teeth are treated and what’s needed: varnish is a short appointment; bonding is charged per tooth; grafts and root canals are quoted separately. You get the fee after the examination, before anything starts.
Book a check
We’re open 10am to 8pm every day at Eros City Square, Sector 49. If sensitivity has turned into throbbing pain, we prioritise pain cases where appointments are available.
Questions patients ask us
Why are my teeth suddenly sensitive?
Common reasons are a new whitening product, brushing too hard, a recent filling or cleaning, receding gums, grinding, or a crack or new decay. Sudden sensitivity in one tooth should be checked.
Which toothpaste is best for sensitive teeth?
A toothpaste made for sensitivity, used twice a day. They usually take two to four weeks to work fully. Rubbing a little onto the sensitive area at night and not rinsing it off can help.
Can sensitive teeth be cured permanently?
Often, when the cause is treated. Covering an exposed root, a gum graft for recession, a night guard for grinding or fixing a cracked filling can stop it. Sensitivity from ongoing hard brushing or acid comes back unless the habit changes.
Is sensitivity after cleaning normal?
Yes, for a few days to a couple of weeks, especially after deep cleaning, as tartar no longer covers the roots. It usually settles, and a sensitivity toothpaste helps.
Is tooth sensitivity a sign of decay?
Sometimes. Sensitivity to sweet foods in one tooth is a common early sign of decay. Brief cold sensitivity in several teeth is more often exposed dentine.
When is sensitivity a sign I need a root canal?
When the pain lingers for more than a few seconds after the hot or cold has gone, throbs, or wakes you at night. That suggests the nerve is inflamed.
Sources
ADA MouthHealthy: sensitive teeth ↗NHS: tooth decay ↗Last updated 18 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.