What you eat directly impacts your health. This includes the health of your teeth and gums. When you are having a dental issue and you cannot make it to the dentist right away, you should be careful and aware of what you are eating.
Sensitive Teeth
Did you know that as many as 40 million Americans report having some pain in their teeth when they are eating or drinking specific foods? According to Everyday Health, “women and young adults with receding gum lines reported the most tooth sensitivity in a study of nearly 800 patients.” Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what food is causing this pain. As an overall rule of thumb, avoid these foods if you are prone to sensitive gums:
- Soda
- Ice cream
- Hot coffee
- Hard candy and sticky candy
- Citrus fruits (pineapples, grapefruits, lemons, etc.)
- Tomatoes
- Ice (don’t chew it!)
Oral Discomfort
Oral discomfort is a hassle, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. It makes eating difficult and painful. Mouth sores, tender gums, or an infection make you fear eating specific foods. Reach out to your dentist if you are feeling discomfort in your mouth. Most likely, they will ask you to come in for a visit. If you cannot make it to their office ASAP, you should carefully choose the foods you eat while also taking good care of your teeth and gums. Some options are:
- Bananas, applesauce, other soft fruits
- Yogurt, pudding, jello
- Mashed potatoes
- Noodles and macaroni and cheese
- Scrambled eggs or oatmeal
- Pureed mashed vegetables (not so different from what you feed a baby)
When you begin feeling oral pain or sensitivity, make sure you reach out to our family dentist in Highland Park. Our doctors are ready to help you and make you feel comfortable again when eating certain foods.
