Have you ever felt a sharp pain in your tooth when it’s exposed to extremely cold or hot temperatures? Tooth sensitivity can be uncomfortable and even debilitating. Fortunately, there are some ways you can feel relief simply by incorporating certain foods in your diet. First, we’ll explain the causes of tooth sensitivity, then share some foods to help ease your dental discomfort.
What Is Sensitivity?
Tooth pain and sensitivity have a number of different causes, including:
- Cavities & Tooth Decay — Your dentin layer, which is made up of hundreds of water-filled tubes that connect to your tooth’s inner nerves, becomes exposed if bacteria dissolves your tooth’s outer protective coating, called the enamel. Your tooth will feel sensitive when these dentin tubules are stimulated by changes in temperature and pressure.
- Bruxism — Teeth grinding literally grinds away your enamel, which exposes the dentin’s sensitive tubules.
- Brushing Too Hard — Brushing with vigorous sawing motions and anything other than a soft-bristled brush will cut and irritate your gums, expose your teeth’s sensitive roots, and erode your teeth’s enamel.
- Using Mouthwash with Alcohol — Alcohol wears down enamel and exposes the more sensitive parts of your teeth.
- Gum Disease — When your gums separate from your teeth due to the buildup of plaque and tartar, the most vulnerable and sensitive areas of your teeth are exposed.
- Trauma — A chipped or cracked tooth provides a path for bacteria to reach your dentin’s tubules, travel along them, and irritate and infect your tooth’s inner pulp.
5 Foods to Help Sensitivity
In order to combat tooth sensitivity and minimize the proliferation of plaque, limit your consumption of sugar and simple carbohydrates; avoid alcohol; and eat more fiber, calcium, and protein, including the following:
- Dairy
- Apples
- Ginger
- Leafy Greens
- Water
Milk, cheese, and yogurt all contain calcium, which is necessary for strong teeth. They also lower the acidity in your mouth, which slows down the decaying process.
An apple is full of fiber and water, which cleans your teeth with every bite. However, try to avoid eating sticky dried apples and other dried fruits, since they have a high concentration of sugar without the watery benefits to wash away bacteria.
Ginger will help prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth and freshen your breath!
Spinach, kale, and broccoli are great for your teeth since they are rich in calcium and folic acid, which promote healthy teeth and gums.
Water, like saliva, washes away bacteria from the surface of your teeth. If your community water supply contains fluoride, that’s even better because it’ll help prevent tooth decay!
Your Smile Is Our Priority!
Don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth every day to support excellent oral health. Our expert team at Arlington Dental Center can walk you through additional ways to combat tooth sensitivity and assist you with all your oral care needs. Contact us to schedule your next dental checkup and cleaning!
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