Do you suffer from sweet tooth pain and wonder what makes your teeth sensitive to sugar? Eating sugar makes teeth hurt for a variety of reasons, including cavities, loss of tooth enamel, gum disease, and oral infections. Teeth sensitivity to sugar can be a serious matter, and in most cases, will eventually require a trip to the dentist. How can you tell what’s causing your sugary, sweet pain and when should you call a dentist? Read on!
If my teeth hurt when I eat sweets, what’s really going on?
For many patients, sweets cause tooth pain because a cavity or tooth decay needs to be treated. Drinking a lot of sugary beverages and eating sugar-laden snacks can wreak havoc on the teeth, strip away enamel, and cause cavities. That’s why our moms yelled at us to stop chugging cola and told us to lay off the Skittles and Snickers bars when we were kids.
Poor oral hygiene can also lead to cavities (and bad breath), which is why our moms also begged us to brush our teeth regularly.
When teeth start to decay you lose precious enamel on your teeth, exposing the sensitive inner layer of the teeth and nerves. So, if you’re wondering, why do my teeth hurt when I eat sweets, a cavity or tooth decay could be the reason why.
People with gum disease and receding gums also find themselves asking, “Why are my teeth sensitive to sweets?”
These patients often suffer from root tip sensitivity because the tooth structure in the area where the teeth and gum line meet is more porous and closer to the nerves. When someone with receding gums dives into something sweet—like a big piece of birthday cake with buttercream frosting—that sweet deliciousness can embed into the root structure and nerves, causing more sensitivity.
What other things trigger pain when I have teeth sensitive to sugar?
People who suffer from tooth sensitivity to hot and cold frequently fall into the same category as patients who ask, “Why does sugar hurt my teeth?” If you are experiencing teeth sensitivity to sugar, heat, or cold, that’s usually a good sign something wrong is going on in your mouth, and it’s time to see the dentist.
Leaving tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and oral infections untreated not only causes pain, it may also cause teeth to fall out or require you have teeth removed or undergo a root canal. Nobody wants that, right? Instead of contemplating the many reasons why do sweets hurt my teeth, call your dentist before more serious issues come up.
Could I just be one of those people with sensitive teeth?
It’s very rare we find a patient who “just has sensitive teeth.” If a patient visits our Fort Worth dental office for a dental exam and complains about teeth sensitivity to sugar, we usually find cavities, gum disease, or an oral infection is to blame. The same holds true for patients with heat and cold sensitivity.
In the rare instances where a patient with tooth sensitivity proves to have healthy teeth and gums, we may recommend trying a tooth sensitivity toothpaste like Sensodyne. Patients often find relief quickly with Sensodyne, however, we will monitor the patient for the issues that cause teeth sensitivity once they raise that red flag.
Once gum tissue starts moving away from tooth structure, even if the tissue is not inflamed, that movement can also weaken the teeth. That’s why dentists keep a close eye on gum tissue when patients suffer from low-grade or mild tooth sensitivity.
If I avoid certain types of sweets will my sugar sensitivity teeth be OK?
Avoiding sweets, in general, may help minimize or stop pain if you have sensitive teeth, at least in the short term. In addition, sweets with a higher concentration of sugar and more powdery sweets—we see you powdered sugar donuts!—can also trigger more pain because they disintegrate faster and filter into the porous areas of sensitive teeth more easily.
How do I know it’s time to see my dentist for sweet tooth pain?
Again, we always recommend patients come in for a visit when they start experiencing tooth sensitivity. More important: If you experience intense tooth pain consistently, you should see your dentist ASAP because intense pain is usually a sign of an infection or another medical emergency.
On the other hand, if you are experiencing ongoing, low-grade pain that doesn’t go away, then you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can get in. Anytime you’re experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity that doesn’t subside, that’s an issue that will not go away on its own.
And the sooner you see your dentist for tooth sensitivity, the more likely it is that you will avoid serious dental issues that lead to more severe pain and tooth loss. Your dentist may recommend something as simple as switching to a soft bristle toothbrush to help prevent gum deterioration, as well as regular cleanings and daily flossing to keep tooth tartar at bay and prevent infections below the gum line.
We’ll help you love your sugar sensitive teeth again
If you live near our Fort Worth dentist’s office and want to find out why do my teeth hurt when I eat sweets, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Laura Loftin. During your appointment, Dr. Loftin will conduct a comprehensive dental exam to get to the root of your tooth sensitivity and discuss treatment options.
A compassionate doctor experienced in cosmetic dentistry Fort Worth TX, Dr. Loftin can also answer any questions you have about addressing decayed teeth with implants, fillings, crowns, and bridges. Don’t delay! Relief is on the way. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
