There is nothing as satisfying as the occasional sweet treat. However, if your teeth are feeling uncomfortable after consuming these treats, and that discomfort is stopping you from enjoying it, then you may be suffering from sugar sensitivity. Although this is a fairly common problem, it should be addressed to prevent any other complications.
Why Am I Experiencing Sugar Sensitivity?
To answer the question, let us briefly explain the anatomy of your teeth. Deep down inside your tooth lies a soft tissue known as the pulp cavity. The pulp cavity is full of blood vessels and nerves. It is covered by a hard but porous layer of dentin, filled with dentinal tubules where nerves also exist. If we were to eat with teeth containing only these sensitive layers, the results would be beyond uncomfortable to us. Thankfully, the pulp cavity is protected by the enamel, a hard material on the outside of our teeth, which prevents food from reaching the pulp. Enamel loss or weakening (often produced by vigorous brushing, cavities, trauma or the consumption of food with high acid content) exposes the dentin to direct contact with sugar, which triggers and irritates the nerves of teeth. This then creates the associated pain of sugar sensitivity.
What Can I Do About It?
In addition to heat and coldness, sugar is a stimulating agent inside your mouth. Feeling discomfort or pain when you consume sweets may be because your enamel is already damaged. Reducing your sugar intake and maintaining good oral hygiene could help prevent or neutralize the sensation. Nevertheless, since your enamel cannot grow back by itself, this may not be enough to solve the issue in the long term. You should contact our office immediately so we can evaluate the state of your teeth and help repair or strengthen the enamel of the teeth that require it. With your enamel functioning as it normally would, the sugar sensitivity should completely disappear.