Tooth sensitivity can be a pain in the—well, in the mouth. Cold or hot foods and drinks, sugary sweets, even a cold wind against your teeth can make your pearly whites start throbbing or stinging.

In most cases, teeth are sensitive because their protective outer layers—enamel over the crown, or cementum over the root—have worn away. That exposes your tooth’s dentin, which is full of tiny tubes with sensitive nerve endings running through them.

Are you suffering from sensitive teeth? Try these six tips to help ease the pain.