Why Do Your Teeth Hurt When Eating Sweets?

If your teeth hurt from sweets, it is most likely due to hyperesthesia – increased sensitivity. If this symptom occurs, you should seek help from a dentist so that the specialist finds out the nature of the negative sensations. The doctor will first examine the oral cavity, and assess the condition of the gums. To clarify the diagnosis, a number of studies (for example, x-rays) can be performed.

The effect of sugar on enamel

The product itself is not an aggressor and does not destroy surfaces. But when it enters the oral cavity along with food, light carbohydrates create favorable conditions for the rapid growth of pathogenic microflora.

Bacteria, feeding on fructose and glucose, actively secrete waste products, among which there are many aggressive acids. It is they that lead first to a decrease in the thickness of the protective layer, then to the destruction of enamel and an increase in the sensitivity of teeth to sweets.

Why is sensitivity increased?

Here’s what the process looks like step by step:

1. Acids have a negative effect on the surface;
2. The enamel becomes thinner and looser;
3. Cracks appear, into which pathogenic microorganisms and food debris penetrate;
4. Multiplying, the bacteria move deeper into the tooth, exposing the nerve endings.

As a result of this chain, sensitivity increases and, as a result, hyperesthesia develops. Glucose itself, penetrating through microcracks, irritates the nerve roots in the pulp, causing pain. You can get rid of them only by rinsing the mouth with water, a decoction of herbs, or a special rinse as prescribed by the attending physician.

Non-carious lesions

When teeth hurt from sweets, the cause of the pain may not only be caries. Manifestations occur both with local pathology and with the following deviations from the norm:

• Calcium deficiency;
• Inadequate intake of vitamins B and D3.

These substances are directly involved in the absorption of glucose. And with the existing hypovitaminosis, the body compensates for the lack of useful compounds by washing out calcium from bones and dental tissue, weakening them and increasing destruction. This happens due to malnutrition, an irrational menu that lacks the necessary substances.

The tooth reacts and began to whine from the sweet, what else can it mean? Discomfort appears as a result of the following problems.

• Incorrect bite, due to which the friction of the surfaces increases. This gradually leads to the erasure of the enamel and its thinning.
• Dentist’s mistakes during the whitening procedure or professional cleaning.
• Attempts to change the color of the dentition at home, both with improvised materials and special means without a doctor’s prescription.
• Too frequent use of a hard brush and aggressive cleaning, improperly selected paste.

Why does it reduce teeth from sweets? General somatic diseases can also provoke this feeling. Most often, pathologies of the nervous system, endocrine organs, gastrointestinal tract, and hormonal imbalance lead to it.

Significant discomfort appears with the presence in the daily diet of products that can damage the enamel. This happens with the use of citrus fruits, pineapples, other fruits, marinades, pickles, and smoked meats, which contain a large number of acids.

Carious causes

Tooth decay is the most common cause of toothache from sweet and cold foods. This pathological process exposes the nerve roots located in the pulp and allows glucose and fructose to penetrate inside, causing pain.

Hyperesthesia in this case can be divided into two types.

1. Primary – this is when discomfort occurs at the site of the lesion, which has not been treated before. Soreness during eating can occur even in the absence of visible damage to the surface.
2. Secondary – when the pathological process already spreads beyond the previously cured area. In this case, hyperesthesia is detected in the presence of a filling.

Periodontal disease

If the gums hurt, then the development of a disease in this group should be suspected, especially if the doctor had previously removed the nerves. Among the pathologies, several are distinguished.

• Gingivitis is an inflammatory process of the oral mucosa.
• Periodontal disease is a violation of the blood supply, as a result of which the tissues atrophy, settle, and expose the neck.
• Periodontitis is a serious disease of the supporting apparatus of the jaw. Deep pockets may form in which food is clogged.

If the tooth under the crown reacts to sweets, what does this mean and what are the reasons? In this case, problems should be sought in the soft tissues, examining the area of pain. Because under the restoration, as a rule, the nerve endings have already been removed by the dentist. We recommend that you do not delay and consult a doctor as soon as possible, taking an x-ray to exclude the development of a pathological process.

Gum pathologies very often cause hyperesthesia. Any inflammation leads to it – whether it be ulcers on the mucous membrane or serious illnesses, the presence of pockets, or lowering of the gums.

Injuries

Toothache from sweets can cause trauma.

Single damage to the chewing apparatus – when hitting the jaw or falling.
Regular injury can be the result of eating too hard food (for example, nuts, crackers), and the presence of a habit of constantly biting something (pencils, nails).

The mechanism of development of hyperesthesia

With frequent consumption of sugar, the acidity in the oral cavity changes – from alkaline it becomes slightly acidic. The shift in pH leads to the destruction of the surface layer of the enamel, it is destroyed more quickly under mechanical action, and a network of small cracks forms on the teeth, through which food molecules and microorganisms penetrate into the thickness of the dentin.

The mechanism of change in acidity with excessive use of glucose is associated with the activation of pathogenic bacteria – it is they who secrete acids that destroy the surface during their vital activity.

The thinner the enamel becomes, the stronger the teeth break from sweets. As the pathology worsens, negative manifestations begin to arise from eating any food, reacting to hot, and cool temperatures, and even air when talking.

Sensitivity Symptoms

In the beginning, hyperesthesia is manifested by unpleasant sensations when in contact with food and drinks (too warm or cold). A slight discomfort rarely lasts for a long time – usually, after 25-30 seconds it disappears on its own and immediately subsides when rinsing with water.

With severe damage to the enamel, the teeth hurt quite a lot from sweets. There may be a feeling of aches, pulsations, and lumbago. In some cases, it can be difficult to independently determine which unit is damaged (if there are no visible pathologies). This is due to the large-scale thinning of the enamel – painful symptoms can spread to neighboring areas, capturing even healthy tissues.

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Discomfort tends to come in waves, easing over time, creating a sense of false recovery. But in the absence of adequate treatment, the pain always returns.

Types of hyperesthesia

Depending on the clinic, hypersensitivity can be classified into degrees:

• I – pain with sudden changes in temperature, when eating too hot or cold food;
• II – characterized by the appearance of a reaction of the teeth to sweet, salty, or sour, as well as after slight temperature fluctuations;

Stage III hyperesthesia is manifested by severe pain that occurs with any stimulus – even with the movement of air during a conversation and touching the affected areas.
Hypersensitivity can take the form of a local one – appear strictly at one point, or be widespread and affect certain parts of the jaw. In the latter case, the entire dentition is exposed to the disease.

Diagnosis of hyperesthesia

If your teeth hurt from sweets, what should you do? It is imperative to conduct a qualitative examination, in order to exclude serious diseases: pulpitis and periodontitis. This can only be done by a professional – therefore, you should not self-medicate, and if pathological symptoms occur, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Dentists adhere to a certain algorithm.

1. A visual inspection is carried out, during which significant enamel defects and chips can be detected.
2. EOD (electroodontodiagnostics) is a research method in which the reaction to a directed electric current is monitored. Pathology should be suspected if the final value exceeds 2-6 microamps. But this technique works only on live pulp and is considered not always reliable and already outdated.
3. The cold test is a more common test used by dentists. During the study, the surface is exposed to cold or heat, in which the nerve endings respond to the stimulus. The dentist evaluates the speed and severity of the reaction. “Freeze test” is the most affordable, fast, convenient, and reliable method for determining the disease.

Treatment of hyperesthesia

When teeth hurt after sweets, what to do? The main thing is not to delay the trip to a specialist. Do not self-medicate, it can aggravate the situation and lead to the development of complications.

The maximum that can be done before visiting a doctor in order to reduce the pain symptom is to take an anesthetic tablet and rinse the mouth with a rinse marked “for sensitive enamel”, soda solution, or sage broth.

General treatment strategy

Only a doctor can determine which direction you should follow.

If you are wondering: “Why do my teeth hurt when I eat sweets?”, Then there are several approaches to restore the integrity of the enamel in the presence of microcracks.

1. Remineralization.
2. Physiotherapy.
3. Fluoride application.

All of these methods are applicable when there is no significant defect. If there is caries, then it is subject to high-quality treatment. If there are problems with the gums, an appropriate therapeutic strategy is selected.

Remineralization

With partial destruction of the surface layer of enamel, the use of special gels that contain a complex of minerals (fluorine and calcium) is recommended.

If your teeth and gums hurt from sweets, but there are no caries, this is the best way to fix the problem. With regular application of remineralizing agents to damaged elements, microcracks are eliminated, and sensitivity to external stimuli decreases.

Fluoridation

The procedure is carried out in two ways:

• Simple. It can be carried out when the enamel is slightly destroyed. The bottom line is that a remineralizing mass is applied to the damaged parts and protective caps are put on top. The mixture is aged for 15 minutes, after which the oral cavity is processed. For more effective treatment, you need to go through several such procedures.
• Complex fluoridation begins with professional cleaning, after which a special composition is applied intermittently.

What can be done at home?

What to do at home when your teeth react to sweets and hurt from chocolate?

1. With severe discomfort, before going to the doctor, you can take a pill or any painkiller.
2. Use special gels and pastes, rinses that reduce hypersensitivity.
3. Alternative methods, as a rule, are ineffective, but can temporarily relieve discomfort. These include – rinsing the mouth with a decoction of oak bark, and sage, and applying tea tree oil to problem areas.

It should be remembered that self-medication is not recommended. This may be a forced measure while waiting for an appointment with a doctor. It is advisable to carry out all independent manipulations after consultation with a specialist.

Can there be complications when a tooth hurts from hot and sweet

If you do not seek help from a specialist in time, hyperesthesia progresses and gradually turns into a neglected form. At this stage, any external influence leads to painful sensations.

If the cause is not eliminated, further destruction occurs, penetration into the pulp, and the development of a diffuse inflammatory process, which can lead to the loss of the masticatory apparatus.

Sensitivity Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of hyperesthesia, it is important to pay due attention to regular hygiene procedures. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating.

If a tooth hurts after sweets, you need to undergo systematic preventive examinations at the dentist. If necessary, do professional cleaning – this will help to avoid the formation of plaque and save you from the stone.

Clean the elements of the dentition with the correct paste containing the entire set of trace elements. Choose medium-hard brushes that won’t hurt your gums. Thoroughly clean the remains of food from the interdental space with a floss. Use your irrigator regularly.

Selection of paste for prevention

With hyperesthesia, it is important to choose the right care for sensitive enamel. Such products are distinguished not only by a more delicate cleansing but also contain components that contribute to remineralization and reduce inflammation of the gums.

What parameters to pay attention to when choosing?

1. When your teeth come in from sweets, choose those products for cleansing the oral cavity, which contain components designed to reduce sensitivity – salts of fluorine, strontium, zinc, hydroxyapatite, potassium chloride or nitrate, calcium carbonate, and arginine.
2. The product should have an abrasiveness of no higher than 25-35 RDA (for example, for whitening options, this figure can reach 100-120).

Summing up

Only a qualified doctor will be able to determine the tactics and volume of therapy, so you should not self-medicate. Timely medical intervention will help resolve the problems that have arisen and prevent the development of complications.

If your teeth hurt from sweets, or react to heat or cold, then it is important to identify and eliminate the cause as soon as possible. This may be a banal thinning of the enamel or lesions that require serious therapy. Visit the site dentika.ru and learn everything about modern dental care firsthand.