Hope for people with sensitive teeth

Toothache is a nightmare for many people and sensitive teeth can be just as painful. People with over-sensitive teeth are all too familiar with the painful sensation they experience as soon as they start eating ice cream. But now we finally know why cold makes our teeth hurt and how to stop it.

Mechanism behind sensitivity to cold in teeth

A cold thermoreceptor TRPC5 causes sensitivity to cold temperatures in teeth.This protein is found in cells called odontoblasts inside teeth, which form the dentin shell just under the enamel. These cells also act as cold sensors. They can do this because TRPC5 is an ion channel - a gateway that allows signalling chemicals, like calcium, through cell membranes under certain conditions; in this case, they respond to cold.

Starting point for toothache medication

TRPC5 is responsible for sensitivity to cold temperatures in teeth. This is an excellent starting point for future toothache medication and protecting teeth that are over-sensitive to cold. As the receptor in the tooth is only found on specialised sensory cells, this helps to explain why clove oil has been used for centuries as a tooth pain treatment because of its active agent eugenol, which just so happens to block TRPC5. No wonder people have traditionally made use of the oil to reduce sensitivity.