Ice Cream Makes My Teeth Hurt!
June 28, 2013You love biting into a nice cool ice cream treat on a hot summer day; however, what you don’t like is that shooting pain that shoots through your teeth, up your gums, and into your brain. Why does this happen? It doesn’t seem like others are in pain when they bite into their ice cream cones. Why is it so painful for you, and how can you make ice cream eating more enjoyable?
Cold Sensitive Teeth – Before you jump to conclusion, you must know that the pain you’re feeling is not necessarily a result of tooth decay. If you only experience pain when you eat or drink cold food or beverages, then you’re probably suffering from cold sensitive teeth. This is a condition in which tiny nerve endings, in your teeth, are exposed. When cold liquids or foods touch these nerve endings, you experience sharp pain.
What Causes this problem? How did you end up with cold sensitive teeth? Either because your gums have receded, leaving small nerve endings unprotected, or because your enamel has worn down. How do either of these happen? There are many reasons gum lines recede and even more reasons your teeth enamel could be damaged.
Gum Line – The gum line is very sensitive and will recede when damaged or abused. In order to keep your gum line from receding, make sure you aren’t brushing your teeth too hard. Also make sure you’re flossing regularly, as bacteria can get stuck between your teeth and damage your gums.
Enamel – Enamel can be damaged a number of ways. First, do you grind your teeth? Grinding teeth can wear away enamel quickly, leaving your teeth sensitive to changes in temperature. Be aware that you could be grinding your teeth in your sleep, so ask your dentist if he sees damage from grinding. Also make sure you’re brushing your teeth for at least three minutes, as most people don’t brush their teeth long enough. Inadequate brushing can lead to tarter build up that can eat away at the protective enamel.
Treatment – There is no treatment that will make your mouth good as new; however, you can certainly stop your gums from receding further and you can protect the enamel that isn’t damaged! A visit to the dentist is always a good idea to diagnose sensitive teeth, but there’s more you can do as well. Invest in a good toothpaste for sensitive teeth, wear a mouth guard to bed if you grind your teeth, brush softer and for longer, and make sure you’re extra careful whenever you eat cold foods like ice cream!
Related articles
