Updated: August 28, 2026
Your Missoula, MT dental team at Nelson Dentistry is here to provide high-quality general and preventive dentistry for patients and their families.
While we want our patients never to feel oral pain or discomfort, there are times that this is the unfortunate case. Many times, we can treat the issue as soon as it begins, thus preventing a more significant, costlier problem.
Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?
Many American adults experience tooth sensitivity at some point in their lives. However, ongoing tooth sensitivity can result from exposed dentin due to gum recession or gum disease.
Unlike the visible crown of the tooth, the roots are protected by cementum rather than enamel. When cementum wears away or gums recede, microscopic tubules in the underlying dentin lead to the nerve, causing sensitivity.
Common causes of tooth enamel erosion and gum recession include:
- Brushing your teeth too hard
- Too much sugar in your diet
- Too much acid in your diet
- Acid reflux
- Bulimia
- Dry mouth
- Teeth grinding or clenching
The good news? We can treat sensitive teeth!
How We Treat Sensitive Teeth In Missoula
Let Dr. Jonathan Nelson know if you experience tooth pain or sensitivity to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks. Tooth decay and cavities are common culprits that we can evaluate and address. We may recommend desensitizing toothpaste or fluoridated toothpaste for use at home. For more severe or underlying causes of tooth sensitivity, treatment may include a filling, gum graft, or root canal therapy.
Reducing your consumption of acidic beverages like soda, fruit juice, or alcohol can help protect your enamel. This, coupled with daily brushing and flossing, can help eliminate plaque build-up. Still, even meticulous and detailed brushers have spots they can't reach that can be hot spots for plaque and bacteria. Professional dental cleanings are required to remove hardened plaque, known as calculus or tartar, that cannot be removed by brushing alone.
Sensitive teeth can be very painful, but there's no reason to tolerate this pain.
Contact Nelson Dentistry today to schedule an examination and find relief from tooth sensitivity.