Page 1 of 1

Extreme sensitivity to cold

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:59 pm
by Silverware
For the past few days I've had extreme sensitivity to cold on my bottom jaw only on the right side. I have an expander on my upper palete and the right arm has bent down so that i hit it with my bottom molars when i bite down. It seems like I may have made some sort of gash in my bottom molar by doing this, because the pain is so exteme on my bottom molars on that side when I drink any cold liquids (even slightly cool). Any ideas? I'm going to call my ortho on monday, but I was wondering if you guys had an similar experiences or might know what this is.

I've bought some Orajel (Night-time relief-long term) to rub on when I need to eat/drink.

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:20 pm
by Flora2006
It's funny that you mention this. I can't say I am experiencing severe sensitivity to cold...but I did notice some sensitivity to cold after getting the braces. I know I don't have any cavities because it was all taken care off...I should bring this up with my dentist or ortho...very strange :roll:

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:26 pm
by Silverware
Well, this is extreme. After brushing my teeth this afternoon I went to rinse my mouth out with cold water... forgetting about it for a second... and I nearly doubled over in pain. It lasts several seconds then compeltely subsides. It's awful!

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:31 pm
by Flora2006
Yeah definitely talk to your ortho, if I were you I would call the dentist and see if he/she can see you...

Good luck!

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:40 am
by weird_wired
You may have slightly eroded the gum, exposing the tooth necks (this was what caused my hypersensitivity).

If so, the only solution is to wait for the exposed part to calcify. You can speed this up getting regular fluoride treatments, getting fluoride varnish put on, and using a special high-fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash and gel. I use a brand called Emoform.

You can also try using GC Tooth Mousse or similar "Recaldent"-containing product.

I found that my sensitivity got better after braces, because the gum often swells a bit, and in my case seemed to recover the problem tooth.

This neck exposure can be pretty much impossible to see with the naked or untrained eye. It only takes a tiny fraction of tooth neck to be exposed for the most agonising hypersensitivity to occur. I had problems even with room temperature water - basically anything below or much above mouth temperature was hell.

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:40 pm
by Silverware
weird_wired wrote:You may have slightly eroded the gum, exposing the tooth necks (this was what caused my hypersensitivity).

If so, the only solution is to wait for the exposed part to calcify. You can speed this up getting regular fluoride treatments, getting fluoride varnish put on, and using a special high-fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash and gel. I use a brand called Emoform.

You can also try using GC Tooth Mousse or similar "Recaldent"-containing product.

I found that my sensitivity got better after braces, because the gum often swells a bit, and in my case seemed to recover the problem tooth.

This neck exposure can be pretty much impossible to see with the naked or untrained eye. It only takes a tiny fraction of tooth neck to be exposed for the most agonising hypersensitivity to occur. I had problems even with room temperature water - basically anything below or much above mouth temperature was hell.
That would explain it. I do have full braces as well, though. Also, if I look very closely at my back lower molar, it looks like there is a small notch on the crown. Mind you, I could be seeing things, but I am leaning toward the explanation that the expander arm that has shifted downward took a chunk out of my tooth after constant contact (biting.. clentching, etc).

I have learned to drink cold drinks virtually pain free-with a straw! If I shove the straw far far back in my mouth I can have the drink almost go straight down my throat. It's a bit tricky getting the straw out without pouring liquid into the hurting area, but I've gottne the hang of it.

The good news is that I'll be going to the ortho's office tommorow early morning. I called and left a message on the machine that I'll be coming in, so I hope they're ready for me! My hope is that he'll just fill it with some acrylic, or something else to correct the problem. My second hope is that the reason the expander is shifting down is that my palete will not expand anymore, so he has to take off the expander to prevent further damage. That would be an amazing day! :D

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:32 am
by weird_wired
Part of my problem was worsening the erosion by overscrubbing - because I thought the sensitivity indicated bad hygience/decacy, so I started a vicious cycle.

I remember taking a trip to wintry Germany when I couldn't even breathe with my mouth properly because the air was so cold it hurt.

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:46 am
by Silverware
It's been cold here (Canada eh) and breathing outside causes pain. I went in today and they were closed. I guess everyone is on holidays this week! Luckily, they must have checked the office messages because they called me and said I could come in tommorow... right before the ortho leaves for vacation.

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:05 pm
by Geri
Hi Sliverware....I've experienced this extream sensitivity to cold too (I posted on a thread about it a while ago - sorry I would find it but only have a moment).

I'd never had this colness problem before then one day - OUCH - a cold drink had me in agony for several seconds. It really was breath-taking and made me avoid ice-cubes like the plague for a while.

I think it was because of my teeth moving from the braces...I have never over-brushed or had teeth problems before (well, apart from a couple of fillings).

A few weeks of max strength sensodyne toothpaste and I was back to normal-ish....I still don't use cold water in my water-pik, but I do eat ice-cream with no ill effects.

So, I hope your sensitivity gets better soon too. :D

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:03 pm
by airxjordan24
i've been braced for about 4months now, and just experienced this sharp pain when i drank a class of cold water. Ouch :(

yikes and ouccch!

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:51 pm
by akabraces
ouchhhH!!!!!!!!!

my tooth is killinnnng me, especially
when i have cold things--does that
mean a filling fell out? ugh!
have you ever had this?????
it's on a lower molar, and my
lowers aren't braced yet...

tomorrow is sunday, so i don't
think the dentist is open!

anybody have any advice on what
i should do? it's killing me!
does ibuprofen work???

thanks!

*aka