Many people experience discomfort or pain when they drink hot or cold beverages or eat hot or cold foods. This pain is usually in the tooth or the gums and may just be a sign of gum sensitivity. Often, however, this is a sign of tooth enamel loss and may require a tooth cavity filling. If left unchecked, a root canal treatment may be required. If you are experiencing discomfort and are concerned for your oral hygiene and wellbeing, the experts at Ipswich Family Dental Practice are here to help you. When it comes to regular checkups and standard tooth filling procedures, no family clinic does it better than us!
Why This is Happening
When you consume a highly acidic diet, brush your teeth too often or have acid reflux problems, you may eventually experience sensitivity when it comes to extreme temperatures in the mouth. This pain or discomfort is a result of the tooth enamel of your teeth wearing away over time, exposing the soft inner part of the tooth where the nerves live. The enamel is the protective layer of your tooth that separates these nerve endings from the inside of your mouth. Certain triggers, such as hot foods and drinks, can aggravate these nerves, causing sensitive teeth and tooth pain. Tooth sensitivity can be treated and will usually go away, depending on the cause. Sometimes, teeth can be especially sensitive after certain dental procedures, such as tooth cavity fillings or root canal treatments or therapy. In this case, the sensitivity will usually go away by itself.
Foods and Drinks That May be Hurting Your Tooth
Any hot or cold food or beverage can disturb the nerve endings of your tooth, such as:
- Icy poles and ice creams
- Hot teas or coffees
- Melted cheese
- Soups or casseroles
- Anything straight out of the oven
- Ice
- Mulled wine
- Chilled alcoholic beverages
Although foods and drinks like these will aggravate the nerve ending of your tooth or your sensitive gums, the food and drinks that cause this enamel issue are highly acidic. Highly acidic foods and drinks are such things as:
- Coffee
- Wine
- Tomato sauce
- Citrus fruits like oranges or lemons
- Tomatoes
- Carbonated soft drinks or alcohol
- Energy drinks
- Spicy curries and chilli
These should be eaten as part of a meal and limited in your general diet. If you are already experiencing a toothache, these things should be avoided.
What to do if Food or Drink is Hurting Your Teeth
If the enamel is wearing away on one or more of your teeth, this may be a sign that you’re in need of a tooth filling or root canal treatment. You should see a local family dentist once or twice a year, more often if you experience pain and discomfort. Book an appointment with your local family dentist, like Ipswich Family Dental Practice in Ipswich or Brassall, Queensland and find peace of mind.
Feel free to contact Ipswich Family Dental today in their Ipswich or Brassall clinics. Alternatively, book an appointment online and come and see one of our highly trained dentists now.
