One of my teeth (#9) became wildly sensitive to heat, cold (lingers a bit), air and sweet foods out of the blue a few days ago. The root tip feels spongy/sore, but the tooth doesn't ache on its own. I just started using Therabreath rinse and it irritated my gums. Should I try desensitizing toothpaste for a couple weeks, or is it more likely that the rinse timing was coincidental and I'm heading for RCT? Is it unusual to go straight to heat sensitivity without a period of cold sensitivity first?
×
4 Reasons Why Ask DoctorBase™ is the Most Efficient Way to SEO and Establish Your Brand Online
- Ask DoctorBase™ is a free service for patients on the DoctorBase platform - currently servicing over 6 million American patients of record.
- All answers submitted by healthcare professionals (you) are for entertainment purposes only and do not constitute doctor-patient relationships. All patients must agree to this before using Ask DoctorBase™.
- Our software and our Marketing Engineering staff review each answer and optimize your answers for keywords valuable to your specialty. It is a well kept secret that doctors (you) - not SEO consultants - are the ones who have the most valuable content prized by search engines. Ask DoctorBase™ "unlocks and optimizes" your content in the most efficient manner possible with today's technology.
- Finally, the doctor who provides the most popular answer - "the Featured Answer," gets an added benefit by allowing patients to write rave reviews about your expertise - reviews that are submitted to both Google and Google Local through our Preferred Data Provider relationship.
Ask Dr. Molly if you have questions or want a personal session on how to best use Ask DoctorBase™ for maximum marketing impact.
Overnight heat sensitivity
Find low drug prices at local & online pharmacies
Find low drug prices at local & online pharmacies
1 UpVoted this answer
You indicated sensitivity to both heat and cold. You need to see a dentist for a thorough assessment. The problem could be an infection or something more serious. It is possible you might just need a cleaning, if you haven't had one for a while. Alternatively, you could need a restoration, including root canal therapy. Please see your dentist before it gets worse.
1 UpVoted this answer
It sounds like this might be a tooth with pulpitis on its way to becoming irreversible. A tooth filling may not treat or resolve or reverse your symptoms, but the tooth specifically the nerve MIGHT well be on its way to becoming irreversible inflamed and may be indicated for a RCT, essentially a filling in the nerve space due to history of trauma or deep decay that is beyond being reversibly treated with just a tooth filling. I would try to stick to room temperature fluids if possible if warm or heat triggers discomfort/sensitivity. Avoid icy cold or cold fluids and sweets. Avoid biting on the tooth. Follow up immediately with your dentist to determine the tooth status and the best treatment option(s) for you. Good luck
Heat sensitivity is a strong indicator that you have an abscessed tooth. Infection is starting to build around the tooth, below the gum line, and that is why it feels spongy and sore. Your pain will continue to increase if not treated by a dentist or endodontist. You will need to start on an antibiotic and may need a pain reliever. A radiograph of this tooth should be taken to evaluate the severity of the infection and to see if the sinus is evolved. If this is causing headaches or facial inflammation you may need to go to urgent care. It is important that you take care of this right away.
Dear Patient,
If you have a spongy feeling where the root tip is located, that is a sign of an abscess developing. If left untreated over time the abscess would actually drain into your mouth. The recommendation would be visit your general dentist or an endodontist as soon as possible. You will likely need to be placed on an antibiotic and root canal therapy on the tooth will need to be done. If the infection is too large a surgery could need to take place to try to save the tooth.
It is not unusual for a tooth "to go straight to heat sensitivity without a period of cold sensitivity. It is common that a traumatic event (a fall , sports injury, bicycle accident) as a young child, (age 7,8,9,10) the tooth was concussed before it was finished developing. In many cases, it is not until years (10-20 years) that an abscess will develop. Over time the nerve SLOWLY dies thus is the reason why you might not of ever felt cold sensitivity.
The Therabreath rinse I would recommend discontinuing the use until you see a oral health care provider for a diagnosis and a treatment option.
If you have a spongy feeling where the root tip is located, that is a sign of an abscess developing. If left untreated over time the abscess would actually drain into your mouth. The recommendation would be visit your general dentist or an endodontist as soon as possible. You will likely need to be placed on an antibiotic and root canal therapy on the tooth will need to be done. If the infection is too large a surgery could need to take place to try to save the tooth.
It is not unusual for a tooth "to go straight to heat sensitivity without a period of cold sensitivity. It is common that a traumatic event (a fall , sports injury, bicycle accident) as a young child, (age 7,8,9,10) the tooth was concussed before it was finished developing. In many cases, it is not until years (10-20 years) that an abscess will develop. Over time the nerve SLOWLY dies thus is the reason why you might not of ever felt cold sensitivity.
The Therabreath rinse I would recommend discontinuing the use until you see a oral health care provider for a diagnosis and a treatment option.
Due to heat sensitivity, it is best you see your dentist ASAP, usually heat indicates that the nerve of the tooth is infected or dead, meaning you might need a root canal.
If your tooth was sensitive to cold, the problem can be many other things, including possible nerve damage, however heat is not a good sign, see a nearby dentist to check the nerve, before the problem gets worse!
If your tooth was sensitive to cold, the problem can be many other things, including possible nerve damage, however heat is not a good sign, see a nearby dentist to check the nerve, before the problem gets worse!
When it comes to teeth, temperature sensitivity can indicate a serious problem. Desnsitizing toothpaste could certainly help to relieve sensitivity to cold, however sensitivity to hot food and drinks can indicate damage to the nerve, or the root of the tooth. It is important that you seek a qualified dentist as soon as possible so that your tooth may be evaluated.
www.4smiling.com 281-991-1361
The nerve in your tooth is probably dead. The tooth is displaying one of the classic ways that a dead nerve can be revealed, heat sensitivity and discomfort over the root tip area. Heat causes gases within the root tunnel to expand, putting pressure on surrounding inflammed tissues, causing pain. It is common for a tooth in this state not to be reactive to cold, especially when the nerve has died slowly over time. I recommend getting this tooth checked by your dentist ASAP, as this tooth has the potential of becoming more painful and developing an acute abscess. The Therabreath use is probably not directly related to your symptoms. Good luck!