Are you experiencing a tingly or ticklish feeling in your teeth every time you bite into something? These sensations can be quite annoying, especially when they disturb your eating and brushing routines. But why do they occur in the first place?
Tingly teeth can be a sign of underlying problems such as dentin hypersensitivity, weak or broken teeth, cavities, and bacterial infections. If the tingling sensation becomes too intense and you start experiencing symptoms like pain, you should seek professional help.
There are multiple reasons for a tingly or ticklish tooth. However, there are some easy and effective measures to prevent this feeling. Let’s take a look at the various causes of ticklish teeth and how you can deal with this issue.
Why Are Your Teeth Feeling Tingly?
The tingling sensation in your teeth is pretty normal. Your teeth have a dental pulp (nerve bundles and blood vessels) that allows your teeth to feel sensations, such as when you bite into ice cream. Having a tingling feeling in your teeth is your dental pulp’s way of letting you know that there might be something wrong.
Tingling in your teeth can be felt when you’re eating or even when your teeth are at rest. It feels like a chill down your spine or goosebumps in your whole body. If this is something you can relate to, you might be interested in learning the causes of this feeling. Below are some of the major reasons why your teeth might be feeling tingly or ticklish.
Teeth Sensitivity
The simplest reason why your teeth might be feeling tingly is that you have sensitive teeth. If you get a shuddering sensation while biting into something hot or cold or from biting too hard, you probably lhave hypersensitivity of teeth.
Hypersensitivity occurs when the protective enamel layer of your teeth gets eroded and your dental pulp can feel the sensations more clearly. Avoiding acidic and sugary food and not brushing your teeth too hard can help you deal with teeth sensitivity.
A Decayed or Broken Tooth
Unhygienic oral practices can lead to tooth decay, and a decayed tooth can expose your nerves, making the area more susceptible to tingly sensations while eating. Decay is caused by bacteria when you don’t brush your teeth properly. If this is the root issue, your doctor will fill in your tooth and your nerves will be covered again.
Pulpitis
Pulpitis is the inflammation of the nerve bundles and blood vessels (dental pulp) in your tooth. It is characterized by an aching tooth, red gums, and tingling sensations even when your teeth aren’t in use.
Pulpitis occurs due to bacterial infection. Until you get treatment, you can take painkillers to reduce the pain. Dentists might suggest a cavity filling or root canal treatment.
Overbrushing
Overbrushing, or brushing too hard, can increase your teeth sensitivity, resulting in a tingling sensation. Using a brush that is too hard can wear down the enamel layer on your teeth. As a result, the dental pulp is exposed and vulnerable to things like acidic food, temperature shifts, sugary food, and bacteria.
You should use a toothbrush with soft bristles like the GooWoo 100% Natural Bamboo toothbrush (on Amazon). Soft toothbrushes are ideal for hypersensitive teeth, and the soft bristles prevent the removal of tooth enamel.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition where the patient grinds their teeth too hard or clenches their jaw unwillingly. It occurs unconsciously but can have adverse effects on your teeth. Bruxism can disturb tooth fillings, wear down tooth enamel, and break the teeth as well. All this can disturb dental pulp, leading to tingling teeth.
Receding Gums
Receding gums means that the gum line covering your tooth recedes, exposing more of your tooth. In this process, some of the nerves connected to your tooth can be exposed as well. When these nerves come in contact with irritants, it can result in the tingling of your teeth.
If you don’t stop a receding gum, it can become a home for bacteria and cause major issues. It’s, therefore, best to get treatment for receding gums as soon as you notice the issue.
A Recent Dental Procedure
If you have recently visited a dentist for a procedure like a root canal, cleaning, scaling, or filling, your teeth might feel sensitive. There’s nothing to worry about here; it’s a totally normal circumstance. You only need to worry if it becomes unbearable, frequent, or painful.
How Can You Prevent Tickling Teeth?
After learning about the possible major causes of tickling teeth, you might want to know how you can prevent this situation. Preventing tingling teeth is easy. All you have to do is take the preventive measures given below:
- Never brush your teeth too hard or for too long. You shouldn’t brush your teeth more than three times a day (twice is ideal). Use a toothbrush that has soft bristles so that you don’t remove your tooth enamel as you brush.
- Don’t consume too much sugar or acidic food, since they can chip off the enamel layer from your teeth and cause a tingling sensation. Soft drinks, lemonade, and high-sugar foods should be avoided as much as possible.
- If you have bruxism, seek medical help and get it treated. Use a mouthguard while sleeping so that you don’t damage your teeth by grinding hard on them.
- Use a toothpaste that is made for sensitive teeth. A good example is the Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum Whitening Toothpaste (on Amazon). These kinds of toothpaste have special formulas that won’t irritate your teeth further.
- Don’t over-bleach your teeth to make them look white. Teeth whitening strips and bleaching formulas can make your teeth more sensitive temporarily. Take a break from such treatments.
- Always go to a reliable dentist for procedures and checkups. Negligence on the part of dentists, such as improper fillings, can also cause tingly teeth.
- Get your teeth checked regularly by a professional dentist and never ignore your dentist’s advice.
