Guest Post: 5 Foods to Avoid if You’re Having Tooth Pain

Food does more than just provide nourishment; it also helps to strengthen your whole body, you’re your bones to your organs to your hair. However, sometimes there are foods that you need to avoid, especially if they are causing you pain, like a toothache. There is nothing like a toothache to put a damper on your day. It is hard to focus on your daily tasks when you are in pain, and the pain makes it difficult to enjoy certain foods and beverages. Luckily, you can manage your pain by learning what foods to avoid until you can visit the dentist. Your dentist will be able to give you more information and dietary suggestions.

Here are five foods to avoid if you are dealing with tooth pain.

Candy

While candy is an obviously unhealthy snack, it is often one we turn to especially when feeling down or needing a quick boost. Although an occasional treat is no big deal, it is no secret that the sugar in candy can be harmful to your teeth. Imagine eating a lot of sugar when you are suffering from a toothache. Toothaches often indicate that something else is wrong with your teeth. For instances, they could indicate cavity formation. If you overdo the candy, you are putting your teeth at risk of decay. You should also stay away from hard candy because the texture alone can increase your tooth pain. Biting down on a hard candy could exacerbate tooth pain or even crack the tooth.

Ice Cream

You may automatically avoid ice cream while avoiding sugar, but it is important to know why ice cream specifically is another sugary treat that should be avoided when you are dealing with a toothache. You should especially avoid ice cream if you have cavities or sensitive teeth. Extremely cold food can increase the pain in your teeth, so ice cream is not a good idea when you have a toothache. In addition, the additional texture or hardness of ice cream add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts can cause you to crack a tooth. While you might assume the soft-serve texture will soothe you, the opposite is likely to be true. Save the ice cream for another day.

Citrus Fruit

You probably know not to brush your teeth after drinking orange juice, but did you know that citrus fruits can cause more problems if you eat them regularly. While citrus fruits are healthy and can provide healthy vitamins, they are also very bad for your teeth. You do not want to avoid citrus fruit altogether for nutrition purposes, but you should only eat citrus fruit in moderation. This includes grapefruit, pineapple, lemons, limes and oranges. The acid in citrus fruit damages the tooth enamel, which can lead to sensitive and painful teeth. Not only can citrus make your teeth hurt more, it can also make your teeth have worse health problems. Oranges may be healthy, but try to eat them in moderation.

Juice

Juice is another healthy option that is a bad idea when you have a toothache or sensitive teeth. It is not necessary to avoid juice if you need it to stay hydrated or healthy. You can drink juice as long as you practice good dental hygiene. However, you may want to cut back or avoid any juice that increases your pain until you can visit the dentist. Juice is often cold and sugary, so it can increase tooth sensitivity to pain. Try to brush your teeth after drinking juice to keep your teeth healthy.

Coffee

You should also avoid drinking coffee if you are dealing with a toothache. The hot temperature is another problem for your sensitive teeth. Another issue is the acid found in coffee, especially when you add sugar or creamer to it. It can increase your pain while leading to tooth decay. If you really need something to wake you up, try splashing water on your face and make a dental appointment as soon as possible.

It also never hurts to schedule an appointment with your dentist at least once a year. Your dentist can check your teeth for problems, give your teeth a good cleaning and provide tips for preventative dental care. If you avoid the foods listed above and visit the dentist, you can manage your tooth pain until it is gone.