"Sensitive" is a pretty weak word for the shooting pain that can sometimes come with this tooth condition. Sensitive teeth happen when you lose either the enamel, which covers the crown of the tooth, or the cementum, which covers the root. Since cementum isn’t as hard as enamel, it wears away more easily.

The material underneath, called dentin, has nerve endings running through it. So when that’s exposed, yeowch! "[Tooth sensitivity] is a huge issue for people," says Maureen Bowerman, a dental hygienist in Saskatoon.

Think you have sensitive teeth? Take our quiz to learn more about the condition and what you can do to avoid the pain.