Food Tips for People with Sensitive Teeth

Living with sensitive teeth can be a real pain (pardon the pun). Whether it’s a twinge of discomfort when you sip ice cold water or shooting pain when you sip your morning coffee, sensitive teeth are more than painful, they may be a sign of a more critical problem. Typically, teeth become more sensitive when the tooth nerve is exposed, either because the tooth is cracked, the enamel has worn away or the gums have receded. Your Gilbert dentist can tell you the best course of action to take to help resolve the problem. In the meantime, here are some eating and drinking tips to help you deal.
Be careful with hot and cold foods and drinks. If you can’t or don’t want to give up your favorite iced drinks, try drinking them through a straw. Especially if they’re sugary, this will help keep the bacteria-feeding sugars away from your teeth.
Dodge the acidic foods and drinks. Lemonade, sodas and orange juice can wear away tooth enamel, which contributes to tooth sensitivity. If you already have sensitive teeth, they can make the problem worse. Another lesser known culprit is stomach acid, which can be present in the mouth if you have acid reflux. In that case, avoid the foods that aggravate the condition.
Avoid hard foods. Very hard foods can cause some serious damage, especially in teeth that are already weakened. They can crack teeth and lead to sensitivity. Avoid eating ice, even if you don’t have sensitive teeth. Your teeth are not designed to withstand that much force.
Cut back on the sugar. The bacteria in your mouth that produce acids thrive on the sweet stuff. This is how tooth decay starts to take hold. While it may not be realistic to completely cut sugar out of your diet (most foods have some form of sugar), you can protect your teeth by eliminating foods that have added sugars, including honey and molasses.
Tooth sensitivity can have many causes. It’s important to know why your condition exists to figure out how to ease the pain of sensitive teeth. If you have problems with sensitive teeth, visit your dentist right away.