Right diet for sensitive teeth
Teeth sensitivity is typically caused due to exposed dentine due to damage to the tooth enamel. Yet the thought of certain foods can make you recoil when you have the sensitive teeth. What you incorporate in the diet can either help or get worse the damaged enamel. Read on to find out the right diet for sensitive teeth.
Foods that help:
Include high fibre foods in diet. Eating high fibre foods like fresh fruits, dried fruits & veggies like beans, cabbage, peas, etc. keeps saliva flowing, which helps to create mineral defences against the sensitivity.
Load up on the calcium, a vital ingredient in the prevention of the tooth problems. Good sources of calcium like milk, cheese, etc. Help to rebuild enamel and make stronger the bone around the teeth. Milk is not only a rich source of the calcium but also helps to prevent & lessen the pH in the mouth. Cheese is an alkaline food which forms an alkaline layer around the teeth and is also known to improve the pH level of the mouth.
Eggs also prevent the drop in pH. They are a great source of the protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, etc. which are necessary for the tooth mineralisation.
Drink sufficient water: Drink at least four litres of water every day. This is particularly important after eating as it helps to clean away sign that sticks on the teeth resulting in pain or sensitivity.
Foods to avoid
Lessen the frequency or stay away from the foods and drinks that are high in acid, particularly juices like lemon, orange, tomatoes, soda and aerated drinks and pickles. Lower pH in them erodes the defensive enamel layer and worsens the condition. Fruit juice also contains an unhealthy amount of sugar which over time gets converted into the sugar acids. Aerated drinks and sports drinks not only have fewer minerals and nutrients, but contain a large quantity of sugar, which is harmful to the enamel. To lessen their contact with the teeth a good idea is to taste these drinks through a straw. And wait at least 30 minutes after meals to brush so that the saliva concealed in the mouth can neutralise the acids.
Sweetened foods can get worse the condition of damaged enamel. The bacteria grow on the sugars to produce sugar acids in the mouth that can dissolve the softer and less resistant inner dentine layer.
Sour candies too are rough on the tooth enamel. Not only do they contain the lot of sugar, they also have added acids that can damage your tooth enamel.
Alcohol dries out the mouth and causes a burning sensation. It contains sugars and is very acidic too.
Hot or cold drinks and foods can trigger sensitivity. Dentine is made up of many tiny channels called dentinal tubules which contain fluid. Eating or drinking hot or cold foods moves the fluid in these tiny channels and irritates the nerves in the tooth causing sensitivity.
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