Two out of every five people residing in the top six metro cities of the country suffer from tooth sensitivity, a survey has revealed.

The survey, conducted by research firm Nielsen for a leading oral care company and covering 1,800 respondents, was commissioned to gauge the existing condition of tooth sensitivity in Indian metro cities -- Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

The findings reveal that although tooth sensitivity is increasingly becoming a common oral health problem, awareness about this condition is fairly low.

Tooth sensitivity is the condition of a short, sharp pain experienced on consumption of hot or cold food and liquids.

Of the six cities surveyed, the incidence of sensitivity was recorded highest in Hyderabad with 55 percent of the population claiming to suffer from the problem. This was followed by Chennai, where 53 percent respondents had the problem.

46 percent respondents from New Delhi, 42 percent from Mumbai and 36 percent from Kolkata claimed to suffer from sensitivity. The incidence of sensitivity is lowest in Bangalore with only 18 percent of the respondents claiming to suffer from the problem.

"Most Indians tend to follow a remedial path where they seek professional dental care only at the time of severe toothaches as a result of which such problems go ignored," said Indian Dental Association (IDA) secretary Dr Ashok Dhoble.

"Some common causes of tooth sensitivity include receding gums or loss of enamel, incorrect brushing technique, tooth decay, fracture of teeth, teeth grinding and improper oral hygiene," he said.

Overall, over 40 percent of the respondents claimed to suffer from tooth sensitivity but only 21 percent of the respondents knew that they could get instant and lasting sensitivity relief, the survey said.

31 percent of the respondents suffering from tooth sensitivity think it is just toothache, said the survey.

Also, the incidence of sensitivity increases from 33 percent at the age group of 18-25 years to 54 percent for the age group of 51-55 years, it added.