Do you feel like your tooth sensitivity is ruining your life? In actuality, it could be your life that's ruining your teeth. If you live a healthy, happy life, you may be wondering why you're still plagued by that sharp, pulsating pain in your teeth and gums. Unfortunately, many popular lifestyle choices that seem good at face value could be causing flares of tooth sensitivity. Take a look at these three surprising ways your choices could be making you say "ouch!"
Healthy eating has unparalleled positive effects on your body and mind, but it could be having a negative effect on your teeth. Many healthy foods that are great for our bodies can actually damage our teeth—and it's all down to acid. Acids wear away your tooth enamel, leaving teeth uninsulated and unprotected. Tomatoes, cranberry juice, citrus, vinaigrettes, and sports drinks are all seemingly ideal choices with high acid levels. Try switching your oranges and balsamic vinegar for low-acid foods like bananas or ranch to keep your enamel safe and your teeth pain-free.
Speaking of sports drinks, did you know that sports themselves could be making your teeth sensitive? As you know, high-exertion activities like running get your blood flowing. Increased circulation is great for healthy skin, cell growth and more, but it also causes inflammation. If your gums are already a little swollen from infection, the inflammation ups your sensitivity and pain while you're exercising. Luckily, this can be fixed with a simple trip to your dentist. They'll be able to help you deal with any infection or gingivitis that could be aggravated by exercise.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to look good, but your longing for whiter teeth might be damaging them in the long run. Just like acid, the chemicals in home tooth-whitening products erode your enamel, making your teeth more sensitive. From concentrated hydrogen peroxide to simple baking soda, these products make your teeth whiter at the cost of your comfort. If your tooth sensitivity got worse when you started using home whitening treatments, consider scrapping them. You'll still be able to get the white results you want—just consult a cosmetic dentist about the safest professional whitening treatment for your teeth.
Remember, while changing or moderating your lifestyle could turn your hurting mouth into a healthy mouth, make sure you consult a dentist if pain persists. Tooth sensitivity can be caused by many issues that need to be treated as soon as possible.