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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Why Do Cold And Hot Foods Hurt But Not Room Temperature Ones?

by April Myers

Most people who have pain in their teeth from eating typically do so because they've consumed something that's either hot or cold in temperature. If this happens to you, you've likely noticed that eating things that are room temperature or close to your body temperature don't trigger this reaction. If you're wondering why that is and what you can do to put an end to your discomfort, read this guide.

How Temperature Travels

The problem with cold and hot foods and drinks is that the temperature causes the temperature inside your tooth to shift. This typically doesn't happen when your teeth are healthy; usually, this kind of pain starts because the dental enamel has weakened or been worn away. That shell is all that keeps you from experiencing this discomfort normally, as the enamel helps to absorb the heat or cold and disperse it, rather than letting it sink into the tooth.

When you eat something cold or hot, the temperature sinks in all the way to the pulp, where the nerves of the tooth are located. This is where your problem starts.

Why They React That Way

The reason why you're experiencing pain is that your nerves are designed to warn you against potential danger. If you've ever held something really cold, like snow or an ice cube with bare hands, chances are that it started to hurt. This is the body's way of warning you that tissue damage is going to occur if you keep holding onto that cold thing. The same is true of hot stuff. So the nerves in your teeth are essentially offering a warning that these temperatures could potentially harm your teeth.

What to Do About It

If you're having this problem, you need to talk to a dentist about it. Your teeth shouldn't cause you pain when all you're trying to do is eat and drink. Thankfully, your dentist can help to put a stop to it.

This is possible by either rebuilding the lost enamel of your tooth with tooth fillings or by using a dental crown. Either will shield your tooth from the worst of temperature shifts and will ensure that you don't experience discomfort or pain when you eat hot or cold things.

Tooth pain from hot and cold is a common problem, but one that can be treated easily. Don't ignore the pain. Chances are that if you're hurting this much, your teeth are vulnerable to other forms of damage, so get some help by going to a dentistry clinic quickly.

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