Almost everyone will experience a toothache sooner or later. Sometimes, this pain may occur after eating something sweet. Tooth pain from sweets can be a sign of an underlying problem, but before you head to the dentist, it might help to know why your teeth hurt when you eat sweets.
If you enjoy eating sweets, it may disappoint you to learn that your teeth hurt when you eat sweets because your teeth are sensitive to sugar. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH) explains that when you eat sugars and starches, decay-causing bacteria in your mouth come into contact with those sugary foods to form acids. This can attack the tooth enamel, the hard outer covering of the tooth, causing it to lose minerals. If these “acid attacks” continue, your teeth will eventually develop cavities.
You take a spoonful of your favorite ice cream or take a sip of hot coffee and wince with pain. The same thing happens when you brush or floss your teeth or when you bite down. The reason could be sensitive teeth. The ADA states that when dentin, which is below the enamel, loses its protection, heat and cold as well as acidic foods can reach the nerves in the tooth, leading to sensitivity. Cavities, gum disease, worn fillings, exposed tooth root, or worn tooth enamel can also cause sensitivity.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH) cites another issue that might cause tooth pain from sweets or pain when you bite down. It's called periodontal disease, which affects the gums. This occurs when the tissues that hold your teeth in place become infected, and it's typically caused by not brushing or flossing properly, which allows plaque to build up on your teeth. Periodontal disease may also lead to sore, bleeding gums, tooth loss, sensitive teeth, and receding gums.
Proper dental hygiene is the key to dealing with sensitive teeth. The type of treatment your dentist suggests depends on what's causing your sensitivity. The ADA suggests the following:
1. Desensitizing toothpaste. This toothpaste contains special ingredients that block sensation from traveling from the tooth to the nerve. You may have to use it several times to reduce sensitivity.
2. Fluoride gel. If the enamel of your teeth has been weakened through mineral loss, applying a fluoride gel will help strengthen it and reduce sensation. This is usually done in a dentist’s office.
3. Crowns. These are used to protect the weakened tooth from further damage.
4. Surgical gum graft. If you have receding gums, your dentist might do a gum graft to help reduce sensitivity.
5. Root canal. This is a final resort to reduce sensitivity and save a tooth when the pulp, the soft area inside the tooth, has become infected.
Dental cavities are also known as dental caries. The American Dental Association (ADA) defines a cavity simply as “a little hole in your tooth.” This forms when the enamel in your teeth decays. You may experience tooth pain from sweets when the bacteria in plaque produce acids that break down the enamel over time, and cavities result.
In the early stages of a cavity, you may not have tooth pain from sweets. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that untreated cavities can lead to pain and infection. They can also lead to abscesses, which can make you very ill if untreated. You can prevent dental cavities by avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and sugary foods and practicing good dental hygiene.
Tooth pain from sweets can be the result of an infection, according to the CDC. In children, tooth pain from sweets and infection can lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. If this infection becomes an abscess, they will have severe pain, and if the infection gets under the gums, it can cause facial swelling and fever.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Dental cavities or dental caries (tooth decay) are the most common non-communicable disease worldwide.” In the early stages of dental caries, you will not feel pain, but as tooth decay advances, your teeth become sensitive. You may also experience tooth pain from sweets, as well as when you drink something hot or cold. The good news, according to the CDC, is that caries are preventable.
Since plaque formation is the main cause, the solution is to remove this plaque by brushing your teeth and flossing. The ADA recommends brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled brush. Clean between teeth by flossing to remove food particles that your toothbrush cannot reach.
The ADA also recommends you replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. Also, be careful not to brush too hard because this can damage the enamel of your teeth.
The reason your teeth hurt when you eat sweets is that your teeth have begun to decay. This could be the result of eating sweets and drinking sugary drinks. These sugary foods feed bacteria that form plaque and acids, which destroy enamel and cause cavities to develop.
As cavities progress, they cause pain, difficulty eating and speaking, low self-esteem, and even tooth loss. To avoid all this, begin by decreasing your sugar intake, brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily, and most importantly, visit your dentist regularly for prevention and treatment of oral disease.
