5 Foods To Immediately Avoid If You Have Sensitive Teeth

If you’re someone fighting sensitive teeth, then you’re familiar with the discomfort and pain that often happens when you eat or drink. Sweet drinks and snacks are not the only culprits for sensitive teeth. Foods and drinks high in acids also wear away the enamel that protects your teeth, a process called tooth erosion. This provides a gateway to bacteria that can cause infection or cavities. Here are the top 5 food to immediately avoid if you have sensitive teeth.

1. Aerated drinks

Aerated soft drinks have two ingredients that can irritate the nerves of exposed teeth, sugar and acid, so this is a twofold blow. Even if they are sugar-free, the carbonation makes them more likely to be acidic. That bubbly fizz raises the drink’s acid level, regardless of its flavor. While sports and energy drinks sound healthy, they too are acidic, filled with sugar, and can be extremely harmful to your teeth.

2. Citrus foods and drinks

Pineapple, grapefruit, and lemons are all fruits with high acidity, and the acid can make the teeth more sensitive. Orange juice or fresh-squeezed lemonade, are higher in acid than normal water so make them an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Drink plenty of plain water if you consume them.

3. Pickles

Love eating pickles? Who doesn’t?  They make the food taste better. One cannot imagine a kitchen without pickles in India. Pickles are very high in acid content. Like with other acid-containing foods, pickles can increase the sensitivity of the tooth by eroding the minerals which make up your tooth enamel.

4. Alcoholic beverages

Alcohol causes dry mouth and dehydration. People who drink too much may find their saliva flow decreased over time, which can lead to tooth decay and other oral infections like gum disease. This can cause sensitivity. Drinking alcohol, particularly wine also exposes the teeth to considerable levels of acids.

5. Candies

Candies such as suckers, peppermints, and lollipops contain large levels of artificial sweeteners that can aggravate your sensitivity. Not only are hard candies full of sugar that can cause cavities, but they can also cause teeth to chip or crack that can lead to a dental emergency. Sour candies contain various types of dietary acids including citric acids which can cause enamel erosion. The better alternative is a piece of sugarless gum.

If you have sensitive teeth, make sure you avoid these common troublesome foods. In treating sensitivity, proper diagnosis of the reason for the sensitivity is crucial. If the food you eat or drink is starting to wear your teeth and enamel, it is time to change your eating habits. Simply put, a healthy mouth can only help you enjoy your favorite cuisine!