Researchers discover why cold induces tooth pain and hypersensitivity -- and how to stop it

(Massachusetts General Hospital) Researchers have demonstrated a novel function for odontoblasts: the ability to respond to cold by initiating electrical signals in nerves that register as pain. The discovery delineates the molecular mechanism for tooth pain due to cold. Oil of cloves, an age-old remedy for dental pain, inhibits the odontoblasts' cold-sensing and may present a pharmacologic solution to teeth that are hypersensitive to cold.