7 food items to avoid when you have sensitive teeth
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Do you experience tingling pain in one of your teeth or entire teeth? It stimulates intense pain at times while biting a food item. Right?
It is Teeth Sensitivity also known as “Dentin Hypersensitivity”.
Don’t worry. It is a common dental problem which is a temporary one unless it is stimulated due to decay, fractured teeth and gum infection.
The problem arises as a result of exposing the teeth’s inner layers. Hence the sufferer needs to give up certain food items during that phase to protect the teeth’s softer tissues that are obvious.
Here are the food items that accelerate the teeth sensitivity and make the condition worse.
1) Hot tea & Hot coffee
Most people begin their day by consuming tea or coffee at extreme temperatures. Such excessive hotness is effective to damage the dentin and nerves present in it. The presence of acidity and sugar added with the hot liquids add value to the damage.
If you want to prefer tea, coffee or other hot drinks like soup, then lower their temperature levels. Similarly, adding milk to tea and coffee reduces the level of acidity in those drinks.
2) Acidic foods
Food items and snacks like meat, cookies, white bread, chips are highly acidic in nature. Similarly, drinks like soda, diet soda also contains a high amount of acidic substances. They are effective to weaken and wear down the hard outer covering of a tooth (enamel).
3) Sugary Foods
Sugar is also highly acidic in nature. Sugary foods especially gummy and hard candies stick to the sensitive teeth and irritate the dentin through the tiny pores present in the enamel. It induces pain in the root of the infected tooth or teeth.
Likewise, oral bacteria take advantage of the sugary compounds deposited on the teeth and make the condition worse.
4) Cold drinks & Cold foods
Our teeth are highly prone to excess cold temperatures as well as heat. Cold eatables like ice creams, frozen yogurt should be avoided when you have dentin hypersensitivity.
Consuming cool drinks and fruit juices with ice also hurt the sensitive teeth. If you have the habit of chewing ice cubes, please avoid it.
5) Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages like beer, red wine and other liquors are rich in sugar and acidic contents. The alcoholic compounds are powerful weaken the teeth, make them sensitive and even cause tooth decay.
6) Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits like grapes, pineapple, tomato, lemon are also highly acidic in nature. If you frequently feed your mouth with these fruits or their juices, it will break down the teeth enamel and make the teeth more sensitive.
Hence it is better to avoid those fruits and items prepared with them like tomato sauce, juices when your teeth are sensitive.
7) Spicy foods
Spicy foods affect the teeth in an indirect manner. The ingredients added in spicy foods are effective to break down the stomach acids that cause acid reflux. It makes the acids travel back to the mouth through the esophagus.
The compounds present in such acids are also persuasive to damage the enamel and cause teeth sensitivity.
Conclusion
Sensitive teeth may be occurred due to activities like vigor brushing and other dental diseases. Cutting down the listed food items will help you to get relief alone. If the discomfort level persists for many weeks, you should visit your Dentist immediately.
