Picture this: you’re celebrating Halloween with your friends and family. It’s a beautiful night, the kids have just returned from trick-or-treating, and you spy the bright orange wrapper of a Reese’s Cup among the bounty of candy they’ve brought back. You go to take a bite, and suddenly cringe in pain. Sound familiar?
Your teeth are probably sensitive to sugar. Here’s why, and what you can do about it so you can enjoy the upcoming holidays more comfortably.
What Causes Sugar Sensitivity?
If you experience pain when trying to enjoy sweet treats, that could mean that your tooth enamel is damaged. Some common causes are brushing too hard or eating too many highly acidic foods.
Your enamel protects the more sensitive inner layers of your teeth, so when it’s damaged or not functioning properly, it can lead to that sharp, familiar pain you experience when you bite into those delicious peanut butter cups.
How to Eat Candy Without Tooth Pain
If you’re cursed with both a sweet tooth and tooth sensitivity, you’re probably wondering how you can still enjoy your Halloween treats minus the discomfort. The best thing you can do is to take proper care of your teeth so you can prevent your enamel from wearing away.
Ways to Protect Your Enamel
Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
Brushing with softer bristles is gentler on your teeth and delicate enough to soothe teeth that already may be sensitive. Try products like the Oral-B Sensi-Soft Manual Toothbrush or similar.
Use Toothpaste with Fluoride
Check your toothpaste ingredients for fluoride. Toothpastes that contain it are designed to protect sensitive teeth. If you don’t feel like bringing your reading glasses to the oral hygiene aisle, start by checking out Crest Pro-Health Sensitive + Enamel Shield Toothpaste.
Be More Gentle
Brushing your teeth too vigorously can actually end up hurting them more than helping them. It can damage your enamel, leading to sensitivity and pain. You may not think that you brush your teeth too hard, but one-third of 700 dentists surveyed by the Academy of General Dentistry say that the second-leading cause of tooth sensitivity is poor brushing technique. So, when it doubt, brush a little softer and slower.
The Bottom Line: Teeth sensitivity happens, especially around this time of year when all of the sweet, fun, and colorful Halloween treats have high sugar content. To ease your pain, consider taking the preventative measure listed above. You can also check out our other post that lists ways to soothe your sensitive teeth.
