A tingling sensation in the teeth is one of those symptoms which should be investigated carefully. It is something many dentists will see regularly. Patients will often describe a slight buzzing or pins and needles feeling in certain teeth, or throughout their whole mouth. This strange sensation will often be caused by the stress in your teeth, irritation in your nerves or damage to your teeth. If you ignore the early signs of this issue it can develop into serious issues. Doctors will always investigate symptoms thoroughly.
What Causes Your Teeth to Tingle?
Can Enamel Damage Cause Tingling in Your Teeth?
Your teeth have a tough outer shell made of enamel. Over time if you brush your teeth too hard, use a harsh toothpaste or consume acidic foods regularly this can cause the enamel to wear away. Underneath the enamel is a layer called dentine. This is full of millions of tiny canals filled with fluid. When the enamel wears away the dentine is exposed to outside factors such as heat and pressure. This causes hot drinks, cold drinks and sweet foods to cause the fluid in the canals to move quickly. This causes an electric feeling that gives you a tingling feeling.
Can Early Stage Tooth Decay Make Your Teeth Tingle?
When there is plaque build up on your teeth they begin to demineralise. The acid producing bacteria cause the minerals in the teeth to wear away causing tiny holes in your enamel. When this starts to get deeper into your teeth it can cause irritation to the cells in your teeth. You often feel this as a tingling feeling when eating sugary foods or breathing in cold air. By identifying the issue early you can reverse the demineralisation by using remineralising products.
Can Pulpitis Cause a Tingling Sensation in Your Teeth?
Inside your teeth is a pulp full of blood vessels and nerves. This can become inflamed by bacterial infections, trauma or deep treatments. This will often give you a tingling or dull ache feeling when exposed to heat and cold. Since it is inside your tooth it cannot expand so the pressure builds inside causing the nerves in your teeth to feel more. A dentist will carry out a vitality test to determine if your pulp can heal naturally or needs root canal treatment.
Can Teeth Grinding Cause Your Teeth to Tingle?
Teeth grinding can cause huge pressure on your teeth. This causes tiny cracks to form in your enamel and put pressure on your periodontal ligament. This causes over stimulation in your teeth nerves causing a constant tingling or painful feeling. Chronic teeth grinding can also cause more wear to your teeth causing the dentine to show more quickly. Many dentists will advise using a night guard to help reduce the damage caused by the grinding.
Can Gum Recession Cause Tingling in Your Teeth?
Gum disease, harsh brushing or age can cause your gums to recede. This causes your roots to become exposed as they are covered in cementum. This will cause your root to wear away quickly as there is not a strong layer of enamel to protect them. Often you will feel a tingling feeling at the gum line when using a hard toothbrush or eating acidic foods. Periodontal treatments and sensitivity toothpastes can help reduce the sensitivity.
Can New Fillings, Crowns or Scaling Cause Teeth to Tingle?
Often new fillings, crowns, scaling or orthodontics will cause localized inflammation. During the process your gums and bonding materials will cause tiny pressure on your periodontal ligament and pulp. This causes mild tingling which often goes away after a few days. Your dentist will monitor your recovery to determine if it is part of the healing process.
Can Tiny Cracks in Your Teeth Cause Tingling?
If your teeth receive trauma, chew on hard objects or experience large temperature changes it can cause tiny cracks in your teeth. This causes cracks to form in your enamel and dentine causing bacteria from your mouth to reach your nerve. Every time you chew down on your teeth the cracks will bend causing the nerve to pinch giving you sudden tingling. To diagnose hairline cracks special magnifying equipment may be needed.
Can a Lack of Nutrients Cause Your Teeth to Tingle?
Your overall health can affect your teeth and nerves. A lack of vitamins such as vitamin B12, Iron and Calcium will cause issues to your nerves and bones. Not having enough nutrients can cause problems with your mucus membranes and nerve signals. A doctor can help identify what deficiencies you have.