If your teeth hurt with hot, cold, sweet or acidic food and drink, try a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth and book a routine dentist appointment. The NHS lists sensitive teeth as one cause of toothache, and a sharp pain with hot, cold or sweet things can also be a sign of tooth decay. A dentist can find the cause and treat it.
Get urgent help if...
- The area around your eye or your neck is swollen. Go to A&E or call 999.
- Swelling in your mouth or neck is making it hard to breathe, swallow or speak. Go to A&E or call 999.
- You have severe tooth pain that is affecting your sleep or daily activities and isn't helped by paracetamol or ibuprofen. Ask a dentist for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111.
- Your toothache comes with a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums, a bad taste in your mouth, or a swollen cheek or jaw. See a dentist, and call NHS 111 if you can't get an appointment.
What causes sensitive teeth
The Oral Health Foundation, which the NHS links to for sensitive teeth, says sensitivity happens when the dentine underneath the enamel becomes exposed. Dentine has tiny channels that lead to the nerve of the tooth.
Common causes it lists include:
- Brushing too hard, or using a hard-bristled toothbrush.
- Gums that have shrunk back (receded).
- Acidic food and drink wearing away the enamel.
- Gum disease, or a cracked tooth.
- Grinding your teeth, or having tooth whitening treatment.
The NHS also says sharp pain when eating or drinking hot, cold or sweet things can be a symptom of tooth decay. That's one reason to get sensitivity checked rather than only treating it at home.
What you can do now
The Oral Health Foundation suggests:
- Using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. You can also rub a little onto the sensitive area before bed.
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush with gentle, small circular movements.
- Waiting an hour after eating or drinking anything acidic before you brush.
- Cutting down on acidic and sugary food and drink.
For pain, the NHS toothache advice is to take ibuprofen or paracetamol, without going over the recommended dose, and to avoid food and drink that is sugary, very hot or very cold. The NHS also advises brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and spitting, not rinsing, afterwards.
When to see a dentist
The Oral Health Foundation advises seeing a dentist if the pain is severe, lasts for more than a few weeks, affects one tooth, or starts suddenly. The NHS says to see a dentist for toothache that lasts more than 2 days or doesn't go away with painkillers.
Don't go to your GP for tooth pain. The NHS says GPs can't give dental treatment.
What a dentist may do
A dentist will look for the cause of the sensitivity first. Depending on what they find, they may:
- Apply a desensitising treatment to the sensitive area.
- Recommend a higher-fluoride product.
- Place a filling over worn or exposed areas.
- Treat gum disease if it is causing the problem.
- Treat tooth decay, which the NHS says may involve fluoride treatment, a filling, or root canal treatment if it has gone deeper.
A routine dental check-up is a good place to start. If you're thinking about teeth whitening and already have sensitive teeth, mention it to your dentist first.
NHS or private
A routine examination falls under the NHS Band 1 charge unless you qualify for free treatment. Fillings fall under Band 2. Our NHS dentist guide explains the bands.
If you can't find an NHS appointment, a private dentist can also assess sensitive teeth. Private fees vary by practice, so ask for the cost first.
Sources: NHS: Toothache, NHS: Tooth decay, NHS: How to find an NHS dentist in an emergency, NHS: Understanding NHS dental charges, Oral Health Foundation: Sensitive teeth (linked from the NHS toothache page).
Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried, contact a dentist or NHS 111.