If you have sensitive teeth, you know what ice cream, coffee or even a cold piece of fruit can do. Just the thought of extreme temperatures coming into contact with sensitive teeth is enough to send shivers down my spine.
Teeth and The Aging Process
I thought sensitive teeth just like reading glasses was a part of the aging process. I learned to work around extremely hot or cold food items. Or, if I did eat anything at extreme temperatures, I learned to move it around my mouth in such a fashion as to neutralize the temperature before it touched my teeth.
My teeth became so sensitive that I had to carefully monitor the water temperature when I brushed my teeth in the morning. Using mouthwash became a nightmare because it was always too cold.
Reduction in Tooth Sensitivity
Just the other day as I was eating a banana (yes, the temperature of a cool banana used to bother my teeth), I realized I was able to chew it without playing the lets-warm-the-food-before-it-touches-my-teeth game. I was able to bite and chew like a normal person.
Wanting to test the waters a little more, I brushed my teeth using water that was much colder than I previously could stand. Hmmm, what’s going on? My teeth were no longer uber-sensitive to heat and cold.
Dietary Changes
Over the years, I made quite a few dietary changes. I dropped grains, wheat, processed foods and sugars (still use a teaspoon of raw sugar in my morning coffee). I increased my fat intake and started supplementing with vitamin D and magnesium. From what I’ve been reading, those types of changes contribute to improved oral health.
The one-two combination of dropping grains, etc and supplementing with vitamin D was just what my teeth needed to improve. Check out this post on Reversing Tooth Decay . If you read the entire post, you’ll see that the summary of dietary recommendations to cure cavities is the exact dietary plan I’ve been following.
Delayed Postponed Cancelled Root Canal
For my especially sensitive molar, my dentist recommended a root canal. She made that recommendation in the summer of 2011. Having done research on root canals I opted not to do it. My husband thought I was crazy since he had just undergone a root canal and predicted what would happen to me if I didn’t have it done.
Here I am several years later and that particularly sensitive tooth is no longer sensitive. There was a point in time when I could not chew on that side of my mouth because of the extreme sensitivity. Guess whose chewing there now! I can even chew ice with no ill effects.
Think about it. If broken bones can heal, why not teeth?
Additional Reading
Note: I originally wrote this post in 2012. For some reason, I didn’t publish it. It took about 3 months of healthier eating for my tooth sensitivity to go away. Now, 8 years later, my teeth are pain-free. I never went back to eating processed foods as they do more harm than good.
Note 2: I’m a big fan of high doses of vitamin C to handle acute situations. When I say acute I mean things like colds, flu, viruses, infections and…sensitive teeth. I use it as a stop-gap until I can correct the cause of the problem. Some people use over the counter cold medicines or antibiotics. I use vitamin C.
In the case of sensitive teeth, I’d load up on vitamin C before going out to eat or social gatherings when I knew my sensitive tooth would be tested. Vitamin C was my trump card until my dietary changes cured my sensitivity.
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Hi Felicia. This article is very timely. Just this morning my daughter was complaining about sensitive teeth, so I have passed your article and web address on to her. Thank you for keeping us informed.
Hi Loretta, I’m glad my article can be of help.
As I mentioned to Sam in my reply to her, I took large doses of vitamin C when the pain was too uncomfortable. It helped me in the short term, but I believe the diet is what took care of the root problem.
I wish I had read this sooner! I had a tooth pulled a month ago when it became too painful to eat hot foods. They wanted to do a root canal but I opted to pull the sucker out. After a month on antibiotics from an infected socket I’m now fighting a UTI.
I was using that sensodine toothpaste and it usually works on my husbands teeth for sensitivity. Didn’t work on mine so I thought my tooth was hopeless. When the dentist pulled it out she was surprised to see there was no decay and just a tiny fracture where my old filling broke.
So to those considering a root canal or pulling, please try Mrs. Felicia’s remedy first. I am ending up in more pain from my hasty decision. The tooth next door is pretty sensitive right now as well so I am going to follow your dietary advice to see if the tooth pain will go away. Fingers crossed!
Oh Sam, I’m so sorry to hear that. I wish I had published the article when I first wrote it back in 2012. It might have saved you from having your tooth pulled.
What I didn’t mention in the article (and I’ll go back and add it) is that I also took vitamin C in large doses when the pain was too unbearable. Back in 2011, I wrote a short post about the wonders of vitamin C. The vitamin C got me through the immediate pain, but the change in diet is what cured the problem.
Taking vitamin C might help with the residual effects of having the tooth pulled. If you remember, please give us an update in a few months to let us know how you’re doing.
Oh I didn’t mean for you to feel bad about my hasty decision. I probably should have looked up alternatives before rushing to the dentist. Thank you for the tip on the vitamin C. I’ll do that since I found a C that doesn’t give me hives! It turns out I didn’t have a UTI just bladder or kidney stones from amoxicillin trihydrate crystals that were forming from the prolonged use of Augmentin. Ouch! I have healthy kidneys but I guess my body needed extra, extra water while on that medication. I hope you or anyone else reading this does not have to take it and if you do and your urine ever turns cloudy, let your doctor know right away to switch your medicine.
I’ll chime in later with an update on the other tooth. I just finished my egg and bacon breakfast so I’m off to a good start. Thank you so much again for all your wisdom!
I guess it’s that Mama Bear guilt reaction. If I have information that could help someone I like to share it. I was a bit slow on sharing this.
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with leaky gut, but I think you should do a little research on that also. I had classic symptoms of leaky gut which I believe contributed to a host of ailments I used to suffer from.
Well, your breakfast sounds yummy (I had the same thing except I had sausages instead of bacon).
Here’s to hoping you’re on your way to insensitive teeth! 🙂