Did you know that these foods can cause tooth sensitivity?

Due to today's lifestyle, more and more people suffer the effects of sensitive teeth. Tooth sensitivity and the consumption of certain foods and beverages are closely related. Do you know which are the main foods that favor its appearance?

Sudden changes in temperature and excessively acidic or sugary foods can cause pain and different types of discomfort in the teeth. If you suffer from sensitive teeth, knowing what these foods are will help you prevent it, favoring the progressive recovery of damaged tooth enamel.

Find out why it occurs, the relationship between food and tooth sensitivity, and how you can improve your daily life so that nothing limits you.

What is tooth sensitivity?

When we speak of dental sensitivity we refer specifically to acute and localized pain that occurs in a specific part of the mouth. This is described by the patient as a very brief but intense prickling when the affected tooth comes into contact with a thermal, physical or chemical stimulus.

Tooth sensitivity occurs when the dentin, or inner tissue of the tooth, is exposed to the oral environment. While the acute pain usually lasts only a few seconds, the length of time that tooth sensitivity lastsfrom onset to disappearance varies from person to person.

It is currently estimated that 1 in 7 adults between 18 and 40 years of age suffer from it, with an increasing number of younger patients.

What is the cause of the increase in cases of tooth sensitivity? Although environmental factors can be varied, the most frequent cause is the consumption of foods and beverages that erode the enamel and progressively wear it down. This is where the type of diet comes into play.

Dental sensitivity and nutrition

As we have already mentioned, one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of patients suffering from tooth sensitivity in recent years is the consumption of certain foods and beverages. Whether they are sweet foods that are fermented by bacteria in the diet, or substances that in themselves have a high acidity, they affect the state of dental enamel.

A low pH, or high acidity, has a negative effect on the enamel that protects the teeth. Over time, the minerals that make up the enamel are lost, leaving the dentin, the innermost part of the tooth, exposed.

Although there are no nerve endings in the external part of the teeth, the enamel, the dentin is full of them. This means that external stimuli, such as cold, heat and other chemical or mechanical sensations, are felt inside the tooth.

Although it is a rather uncomfortable sensation, this is not the worst thing. When dentin is exposed to the outside, teeth are more vulnerable to bacteria, increasing the risk of caries and periodontal disease.

Top 5 foods that promote tooth sensitivity

Dental enamel is an extremely strong and resistant tissue. In fact, it is the hardest tissue in our body. However, we must not forget that it is a living and constantly changing tissue, so it is also vulnerable if not properly cared for.

Naturally, enamel wears down over time as food is consumed due to chewing. However, in recent years it has been observed that the teeth of more and more young people suffer a greater wear than would correspond to their age, due to some foods and beverages that are frequently consumed in the diet.

It has been proven that foods that are very hot, cold, rich in sugar or with high acidity cause discomfort in people with sensitive teeth. The recommendation is to avoid them, or at least limit their consumption, if you suffer from sensitive teeth or if you want to maintain the integrity of your tooth enamel.

What are the foods that most promote tooth sensitivity? Let's look at them one by one:

Sweets

Because of their high sugar content, sweets are the foods that most promote tooth sensitivity. The sugary remains left in the mouth after consumption are fermented by oral bacteria, which release acids that cause the enamel to deteriorate.

Ice cream

In addition to their sugar content, ice cream causes tooth sensitivity due to its cold temperature, so people with dentin hypersensitivity should avoid it as much as possible.

Juices and soft drinks

The same is true for juices, soft drinks and other sugary beverages. Their sugar content is high, but even the most natural ones have an acidic pH that directly affects the integrity of the teeth.

Coffee

Widely consumed throughout the world, coffee not only has the disadvantage of coloring the teeth. Because of its acidity level, the temperature at which it is usually drunk and the tendency to add sugar or sweeteners, it is one of the beverages most associated with tooth sensitivity problems.

Alcoholic beverages

We should not forget another major cause of tooth sensitivity in young adults: alcohol. Alcoholic beverages such as spirits are rich in sugars.while others, such as beer or wine, have a high acidic character that stimulates sensitivity.

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Recommendations to protect teeth and avoid tooth sensitivity

Now that you know the relationship between food and tooth sensitivity, you can take the necessary steps to take care of your tooth enamel.

On the one hand, oral health care experts recommend avoiding or limiting the consumption of acidic foods and beverages like the ones we've seen. Instead, increase other enamel-protective foods such as dairy products, fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Follow your dentist's Indications for proper brushing. It is very important that, in order not to wear down the enamel, you do not brush your teeth too hard, but use a soft bristle brush, which is gentler on your teeth.

In the market you will find a wide variety of oral hygiene products specially formulated to help reduce the discomfort of tooth sensitivity. The SensiKIN line includes toothpaste, Mouthwash, mouth spray and gel, which allows a complete oral hygiene without abrasive substances that take care of the dental enamel.

Food intake and tooth sensitivity don't have to become a problem that limits your daily life. Treat the symptoms in the simplest and most effective way to enjoy the best oral health.