If a sip of ice-cold water or the first mouthful of hot tea sends a sharp, electric-like jolt through your teeth, it is not something to brush off as ordinary discomfort. Professor Dr. Amit Kumar of Begusarai says this symptom is often an early warning sign of a deeper dental problem that needs timely attention.
The condition is called dentin hypersensitivity
According to Dr. Amit Kumar, the medical name for this problem is dentin hypersensitivity. He explained that when a person has long-standing dental caries, meaning tooth decay, and it is not treated on time, the decay keeps deepening gradually. Over time, it reaches very close to the tooth's nerve, and that is where the real trouble begins.
Cold or hot water hits the nerve directly
Once the decay is close enough to the nerve, drinking cold or hot water lets that temperature travel straight to the nerve, the professor said. This is why people feel sharp sensitivity or a stinging sensation in their teeth. The pain can be intense enough that eating or drinking becomes genuinely difficult.
Anti-sensitivity toothpaste is the first step to try
Dr. Amit Kumar said the first line of treatment usually recommended to patients is an anti-sensitivity toothpaste. In many cases, simply using such a toothpaste regularly brings relief. However, if the sensitivity does not ease even with this toothpaste, he advises getting an examination done by a local dentist without delay, so it can be confirmed whether long-standing decay or some other issue is behind the problem.
Faulty brushing habits can also be the culprit
The doctor also pointed out that tooth sensitivity is not caused by decay alone. Incorrect brushing habits are frequently a major factor too. A faulty brushing technique gradually wears down the outer dentin layer of the teeth, making them sensitive and triggering that stinging feeling whenever a person eats or drinks something cold or hot.
See a dentist without delay at the final stage
Professor Dr. Amit Kumar advises that if home remedies and toothpaste fail to bring relief, patients should go to their nearest dentist without any further delay at this final stage. He also clarified that dentists are available not just at private clinics but also at government hospitals, so there is no need to delay treatment over cost concerns.
