Teeth sensitivity affects around 60% of Canadians. This condition can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for those affected.
However, there are ways to minimize this pain, such as paying attention to the foods you eat.
Here are the foods to avoid if you have sensitive teeth.
Acidic foods: watch your enamel!
Acidic foods and drinks are the first foods to avoid if you have sensitive teeth. Acidity can lead to irreversible enamel loss over time. This not only makes your teeth more prone to damage and deterioration, but enamel erosion can increase tooth sensitivity.
You should therefore avoid acidic foods such as tomato sauce, citrus and pickles. You should also limit your coffee, fruit juice, white wine and soft drink consumption. All of these foods and drinks can lead to enamel degradation and increased discomfort.
Sweet foods and sensitive teeth do not mix
Sweet foods can greatly affect tooth sensitivity. It’s no secret that refined sugar is partially responsible for tooth decay and cavities. Teeth in poor condition will inevitably be more sensitive.
Candy is especially bad for oral health, especially if you have sensitive teeth. Hard candy, such as lollipops, can damage or even break teeth if chewed.
Gummy candy can also get stuck between teeth, or worse, inside a cavity or under the gums. This can damage dentin and expose tooth nerves, in which case a root canal treatment is required to treat the problem.
Avoid sweet foods as much as possible to decrease teeth sensitivity and avoid having to undergo a dental cavity treatment.
Very hot or cold food: avoid temperature shocks
Extreme temperatures are also harmful to sensitive teeth. Sudden temperature shocks can cause teeth to expand and contract, which causes small cracks on the surface of the enamel over time. Food or drinks that are very hot or cold could infiltrate these microscopic cracks, reach the nerves under the enamel and cause severe tooth pain.
You should therefore avoid consuming very hot tea or coffee, ice cream, soup, broth or any other extremely hot or cold foods if you have sensitive teeth.
See a dentist if tooth sensitivity persists
In conclusion, try to avoid consuming foods or drinks that are very acidic, sweet, hot or cold if you have sensitive teeth.
If your teeth sensitivity persists even after removing these foods from your diet, it may be caused by a more serious underlying problem. It is therefore important to see your dentist as soon as possible to treat the problem.
Contact our dental clinic to schedule an appointment with one of our dental health professionals or for more information on sensitive teeth!