My teeth are sensitive to cold unless I use Sensodyne toothpaste. I use the original sensitive teeth pink color and it works great for me.

I had a time when I was having a lot of pain in a back tooth (despite the Sensodyne toothpaste) and the dentist thought I might need a root canal. X-rays didn't show anything problematic and it turned out to just be a sinus problem. I would go to the dentist if the pain continues, but I wouldn't be hasty about having a procedure done unless x-rays actually prove that I need it.

I also have sensitve teeth and use either Sensodyne or Colgate sensitive and that seems to take care of most of the problem for me.

However, a couple of years ago I had my dentist make up the customized trays for my mouth so that I could whiten my teeth at home. He knows I have sensitve teeth and gave me a very mild bleach solution. The first time I tried it, within a minute or two my teeth were aching so badly I had to rinse it out. Told my dentst and he said to brush with the sensodyne prior to using the bleach. Tried it again and same thing happened - huge aching. Then he says there's a Sensodyne Gel that I should apply first - even that didn't help enough that I could leave the trays in more than a minute or two. I'm fine until I try to whiten. Maybe look for that Sensodyne gel and see if that helps you. Some people just have really sensitive teeth.

Definitely use the Sensodyne. Hints from my dentist: you have to use it for a while before it's really effective (at least a month). You also have to make sure you brush your teeth for a long enough time (I do 3-4 minutes minimum) and don't be stingy with the toothpaste.

I also use the Crest Pro Health mouthwash.

My first thought is if it happens to just one tooth, you have a cavity. That's the only way I always knew I had a cavity in my mouth.

IMO, sensitive teeth usually happen if you eat ice, or drink something very hot. But to have one or two sensitive teeth ONLY when you eat sugar is a sure sign of a cavity. I'd have the dentist look at it to make sure.

OTOH, if it's not a cavity, Sensodyne is THE best in helping with it!

Ah, I remember something else. Most people with sensitive teeth happens as we are much older because some of the lining from the tooth eventually goes away which makes the nerves more prone to sensitivity.

I re-read your post and the Gummy Bears is a dead give away that it's a cavity! lol. They're pure sugar and they stick to the teeth really bad which makes the pain worse. Chew a piece of caramel and see if it does it too. I learned years ago not to chew gum anymore or eat chewy candies like gummy bears and caramel.

Can you tell I'm an expert on cavities? lol I'm prone to them, my DH and my sons have NEVER had a cavity in their life!!

A few weeks ago I started using the Sensodyne ProNamel toothpaste my dentist recommended because I have always had weak, sensitive teeth thanks to rotten genes. Man, it's horrible stuff. Mint toothpastes burn my mouth to begin with (normally I use Tom's of Maine's SLS-free fennel toothpaste) and this stuff foams up until I feel like a rabid dog in a bad movie if I use the amount directed on the label. It goes everywhere! Some of my teeth are much more sensitive than others, reacting to cold or sweets while others don't, so I must disagree with oakleyok.

For flossing, Glide floss picks ROCK. It's about the only way I can get to the back teeth. I had one of those floss holder things where you wind some floss on a long Y-shaped handle, but the floss always broke. The Glide floss is thin and slick and gets between my tightly spaced teeth without making my gums bleed. The cheaper floss picks that aren't Y-shaped don't work anywhere near as well IME, it's harder to get to the back teeth without shoving half your hand right into your mouth.

With the reddened gum and consistent pain along with the sensitivity it sounds like you might have an infection. I can sympathize greatly with the dislike of dentists - I have to have all my dental work done under sedation, seriously, because I completely freak out when they start poking around in my mouth and let's not even talk about what happens when I hear a drill "up close and personal" - but it definitely sounds like you'd better make an appointment. Maybe your dentist could prescribe you a little "happy pill" to take beforehand so you're not so tense (although you'd need someone to drive you home).

Lots of things to think about here. Thanks for all the suggestions!

I'm off for vacation next week so this is rather at a bad time if it's something more than my teeth just being sensitive. We're not going away....but had a bunch of small trips planned and this just isn't something I wanted to mess with right now. blah.

I was just at the dentist maybe a month ago and was having the problem before that. Doesn't mean maybe he missed it (cavity) or it just started though. Man that would be bad if I have an infection just in those two teeth or something weird. I've made a trip to the dentist before though complaining my teeth hurt and they found nothing and blamed my sinuses. I just think it's odd that it's mainly those two "new" teeth that are the problem. It's like they're not exposed after all those years and don't like it much.

Mari - I'll get those flossers too. I was using the cheap thin picks because I think they're easier than messing with floss. When I had to have my two teeth pulled I requested they knock me out and the surgeon kind of laughed. He said how little kids come in all the time for this procedure and it's no biggie. It only takes 45 min. !! Hello??! :) I paid the extra for anesthesia. I was also pretty wussy about the cavities I had done. I'm not much into feeling weird. When half my face is numb that's not my normal self!

Ha! You people got nothing on sensitive teeth. Mine were so bad that I had to have novacaine shots before they could clean mine.

I'd talk to your dentist; I got a dentist-strength, flouride-enriched toothpaste from my dentist (you can also get a rinse), that gradually did the trick. I went from shots to swabs to nothing.

Sheesharee, do you by any chance have any Native American ancestry?

The problem with you eye teeth is a characteristic of Native Americans. I had to have my primary teeth pulled and they had to do something to pull the eye teeth down into place or I would not have had any. I think I remember wearing springs that did it.

Have you found that the dentist has trouble getting the anesthetic to take effect? This is another sign of NA ancestry. The nerves are routed in a different pattern with NA people. "Shovel" incisors and singular premolars are another sign. Have you ever looked at your x-rays? Dental divots are common too. Native Americans tend to have very large roots with the teeth that can grow around the jaw and up into the sinuses. You say you have had sinus pain.

There are now dentists who specialize in dentistry for Native Americans and your problems may be a result of your previous dentist shifting teeth and hitting a nerve or even accidentally puncturing or leaving a hole in the sinus when the teeth shifted.

Here is a link that gives a summary and can give you further search terms to find out more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dental Differences

Jason - Wow! I'm glad they were able to give you something to fix it. Would you mind sharing what kind they gave you? I'm assuming you still use it?

Dilly - You're a little bundle of knowledge! :) I don't believe there's any Native American ancestry. Think it's mainly German and French. I will look into that. I haven't had any problems with the anesthetic taking effect. Sounds like we had the same thing done with our teeth. Fun, wasn't it? :) I've looked at my X rays but never really noticed anything that looked odd. Ya know, other than the impacted teeth that weren't suppose to be there. Now the dental divots...I have noticed in the past year or so that the bottom portion of my teeth appear more transparent than before. The gallons of soda (coke!) I was in a habit of drinking I'm sure didn't help any. I guess I should probably also start using a mouthwash afterwards.

I believe this time it's my sinuses being the sneaky culprit again. I'm trying to pay attention to when I have that dull, headache in the mouth/teeth feeling and it's usually worse when I come in from outside. My gums look fine above that tooth now. It may have just been the lighting mixed with my partial panic that was making it appear more pink.

You may not be aware of your Native American ancestry. Lots of people were never told or it was just unknown. The problem of undescended canine teeth is exclusively a trait of NA and certain Asian area peoples.

My mother and siblings had no problem with the canines descending but just like with many of my cousins the two front teeth are winged inward with the next two teeth being positioned forward rather in front of the front two and the canines are twisted sideways because the space is was so small. You can see sort of what I am referring to in pictures of young Cher before she had her teeth "fixed".

Dilly - I had to report back . . I asked my Dad the other day about the Native American thing and he says yes there was! There's also some Irish in there. I find all of this interesting.

How are your teeth doing now? I am betting on sinuses. This last week was a doozy for many due to all the storms that passed through. I walked around rubbing my face and holding my head for a good portion of the week. Even yesterday (which was beautiful, wasnt it??) a number of people mentioned that they still had headaches.

Hopefully you are doing better now-- where are you heading for your mini trips?

PS unrelated to this thread-- my bestfriend met davy jones in a bar in her hubby's hometown. She was all kinds of giddy because she had had such a crush on him when young. You must be from the same area as her DH.. forget the name of the town but I'd guess it isnt far.

"Dilly - I had to report back . . I asked my Dad the other day about the Native American thing and he says yes there was! There's also some Irish in there. I find all of this interesting."

That is really interesting! I "knew" it when you described the dental anomaly. Maybe your Dad has some stories to share with you about your heritage that you can now pass down to the next generation?

Hi, Sheesh. I'm a dental hygienist and I can suggest a few things.

It's common for teeth to have sensitivity that comes and goes, especially in children---but it's usually cold sensitivity.

Stay away from any toothpastes that advertise extra-whitening or extra tartar control. (That eliminates almost all of them on the market.)They actually use abrasives in the toothpastes that will abrade microns of tooth structure away, causing sensitivity. This is particularly bad for those with root recession, as the root is so much softer than enamel and wears that much quicker. I love plain ol' Colgate Total.

Sensodyne is a good, OTC paste for tooth sensitivity but even they have begun to put abrasives in their toothpaste in the last couple of years. If you can find the original Sensodyne that does not advertise whitening, you're good.

Fluoride usage will take away sensitivity. A mouth rinse that used to be prescription that just went OTC is called Phos-Flur. It can be found in WalMart for around $15 and is great for cavity prevention. All of my orthodontic patients use it, and DH and I use it at home too. It's the best stuff on the market that's over-the-counter.

Other reasons for your sensivity could be that you're grinding your teeth, your bite may be off and you're hitting your canines hard, or you do have decay. If you went to the dentist recently, did you get xrays? And if you did, I'm guessing you got the annual 4 called "bitewings," and those won't necessarily image your canines.

My recommendation: if it's been going on for over 2 weeks, place a phone call to your dentist. :)

Funky - I believe it was my sinuses. It was very nice yesterday and today! We ended up not really doing too much with the mini trips thanks to all this crap with the state budget. DH is along with the many that isn't getting a pay check. I hope this doesn't go into October. It's screwing up plans etc. Plus we're suppose to go to the beach beginning of Sept. I feel bad for the people who are in trouble now.
Yeah I think DH said Davy is from Beaversprings? It's not much farther than anything else is around here. That's neat though!

Dilly - He did share some stuff I didn't know about. I didn't know he did any tracking with the family tree etc. Pretty cool stuff.

Texashottie - Thank you for that info! When I had my braces my orthodonitst had me (and all the patients) using Phos-Flur. I didn't really think about continuing when I was done. I'll pick some more up. I'm due for x rays next time. I believe it is the bitewing ones that I normally get. I didn't realize you couldn't really see what was going on with the canines. Isn't that also important to see the front stuff?

I things keep acting up I'll call the dentist. Maybe next time I go I'll have them x ray the front ones as well.

I think you need to request a Panorex. You have probably had them before. Generally they are taken every five years but if you are having problems they will be taken at the time. They will show the sinuses, (part of them at least) and aid in identifying the problem and then seeking a solution.

A dentist sometimes needs both the bitewing and the Panorex to diagnose.

Bitewings image the molar and premolar areas as this is where the highest incidence of decay is. The canine usually only makes it halfway on there. If you are having a problem with any tooth, including the canine, a specialized xray is taken of that particular tooth.

Panoramics are not good for diagnosing decay. They're used to look for abscesses on root tips, look for tumors, etc.