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Cold Water: Will Rinsing Help Sensitivity?

Written by Vu Le, DDS

Pulp is the nerves and blood vessels rigidly confined within the tooth. If they swell, the tooth becomes a pressure cooker, and pain rapidly escalates. The general rule is that if your pulp is irritated beyond a certain point, cold water will actually make the situation worse. There are many things that cause sensitive teeth:

1) Minor to moderate tooth decay - cold water will not help, but will not necessarily make it worse. Filling will resolve it.

2) Moderate to Deep Tooth Decay - if the pulp is aggravated by the tooth decay (which is for all purposes, an infection of the tooth), then cold water will make the sensitivity worse. Only dental treatment will resolve the issue.

3) Cracked tooth - This situation demands dental treatment, probably a crown, and maybe a root canal. For severely cracked teeth, the tooth would need extraction. Cold water will not help, and could aggravate the already irritated pulp within the tooth.

4) Gum recession - the more sensitive roots are exposed when the gums recede. Putting your fingernail on the root will hurt, too. Higher fluoride use (GelKam and Rx toothpastes) or potassium nitrate (Sensodyne) may help. Your dentist may recommend sealants, fillings, or fluoride varnishes to desensitize the area. Rinsing with cold water will not help.

5) Grinding and clenching - known as bruxism by dentists. The extra strain and wear exposes microscopic tubules in your teeth, making them more sensitive. A nightguard may address the wear on the teeth and slow the increase in sensitivity. You may need a desensitizing toothpaste and/or dental treatments on any exposed roots. Cold water will not help.

Come to think of it, cold water doesn't seem to help for ANY common cause of tooth sensitivity. Some practical suggestions:

1) Get a thorough dental checkup - make absolutely sure that there are no untreated dental problems. You can use sensodyne until the cows come home, but if you have a cracked tooth or tooth decay, it won't help.

2) Use a desensitizing toothpaste or fluoride rinse. Sensodyne is the most popular name brand, but many other sensitivity products exist. Higher fluoride and/or potassium nitrate are the active ingredients in most desensitizers.