Any ideas what’s wrong with my tooth?!

[SugarCookieMonster]

I had sudden sensitivity in one tooth when anything cold/hot touched it. Went to the dentist who took an X-ray which showed no issues. My gums were inflamed (it was 2 weeks after a hygienist visit) so he said it was probably sensitivity/gum issue so prescribed a fluoride toothpaste to use for 4 weeks and a fluoride mouthwash to use for 2 weeks.

I’ve finished the treatment but the issue is exactly the same. My gums around the tooth are not sensitive to cold. I can run my tongue around them when I’ve had a cold drink with no pain. But if I push my tongue onto the bottom, biting surface of the tooth, that’s when it reacts to the cold.

It doesn’t hurt to bite down or clench my teeth and I get no pain unless something hot or cold gets to the middle of the tooth.

I do grind my teeth but dentist hasn’t flagged any issues with the enamel etc. I’ve had TMJ issues with my jaw clicking in the past.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

Not sure if this is helpful but I had exactly the same issue. Turns out the nerve was exposed causing the sensitivity. I need root canal treatment to solve it but have been patched up with some treatment on the nerve and a filling on top for now. I can feel it getting sensitive to hot and cold again though so ought to just get the root canal done but it's expensive even on the NHS and I also hate the dentist!

@robinsrace ah, thank you. Out of curiosity how did they find out it was an exposed nerve?
I’m terrified of the dentist and I’ve been trying to convince myself for a week that it doesn’t actually hurt!

I think they applied a chemical to a cotton bud and held it onto that tooth and I flinched straight away because it felt very cold and painful, but when they put it on my other teeth it took a good 5-6 seconds for me to feel how cold it was. I'm sure they X-Rayed it too and saw something on that but you said they didn't see anything on your X-Ray? Might be worth asking them explicitly if they think it's an exposed nerve that needs root canal. I'm saying all this but I'm no expert, just read your post and it sounded so similar to what I had! Absolute agony at times and I left it too long to be honest.

Can you take someone with you to the dentist just for support? I need driving home sometimes afterwards if it's freaked me out a bit!

Yes my X-ray came back fine. I’m definitely going to have to go back and just get it over with!

I had a brutal time with the hygienist that I actually started crying which has never happened before. So embarrassing! I gave birth with no pain relief and walked around with a broken arm for 4 days but couldn’t handle a tooth cleaning! I might have to rope DH into coming with me.

It sounds like the poster above has alluded to; the pulp is irritated. The sensitivity to temperature is the telling sign. This wouldn't show on an X-ray; the main things which show there are infection and caries (decay).

I very recently had a root canal done, the horror stories are not true, I am a real baby and also dislike dental treatment but it honestly didn't hurt. NHS patient(so grateful) it cost around £70 was band 2.

I had this and the filling had come loose so that was causing sensitivity. They put a new filling in and it was fine although it's just started going sensitive again after 6 months so I'm going to have to go back I think 😞 I find using a straw for cold drinks helps.

At this stage it's difficult to tell what it is and therefore difficult to treat.

Sometimes an irritated nerve can recover and settle, sometimes it doesn't and progresses to proper toothache. This is long lasting and severe and can result in an abscess. This is usually when root canal is needed, if appropriate.

Sometimes a tooth nerve can get a bit snarky when it's ground upon and usually will recover.

Another thing it could be is a cracked tooth or loose filling. Sometimes the crack is obvious ie visible and mobile. Sometimes it just niggles or causes some pain if touched or bitten upon but can't been seen as it is internal.

Basically if it's anything that needs further treatment then it will progress and make itself known as your pain will change and other symptoms will come on. Keep some painkillers with you.

@SugarCookieMonster,how are you doing now? Did your pain/sensivity go away? I'm similar, pain and heat sensivity started soon after a visit to hygienist. Dentist prescribed me Duraphat toothpaste. I'm worrying I might need a root canal as I've read heat sensivity is not good.