"What Steps Should I Take When Eating Acidic Foods Causes Tooth Aches?"

When encountering acidity, individuals may perceive a sensation akin to their teeth feeling "soured." This typically stems from dentin hypersensitivity, eliciting soreness in response to temperature fluctuations, chemical exposure, and mechanical stimuli. Some individuals are predisposed to this condition, while others may experience it infrequently, with the frequency directly correlated to the degree of sensitivity. Typically, desensitization treatment is warranted, and those who frequently encounter this should promptly seek medical attention at a reputable hospital.

1. Management of "Soured" Teeth Post Acidic Food Consumption

Should your teeth feel "soured" after consuming acidic foods, promptly consult a dentist at a reputable hospital or the Department of Tooth and Pulp Diseases at a dental hospital for a comprehensive examination to pinpoint the cause of your tooth soreness. If dentin hypersensitivity is the culprit, desensitization treatment should be administered, and oral health education should be imparted to safeguard your teeth in daily life, including avoiding acidic or spicy foods. If the soreness is due to a cavity, appropriate treatment and restoration should be performed to alleviate the discomfort. In cases of pulpitis-induced soreness, pulp treatment or even root canal therapy may be necessary.

2. Causes of Dentin Hypersensitivity

Dentin hypersensitivity can arise from various dental conditions that compromise enamel integrity and expose dentin, including attrition, wedge-shaped defects, tooth fractures, dental caries, and periodontal atrophy leading to exposure of the tooth's cervical region. This condition often correlates with the duration of dentin exposure and the rate of reparative dentin formation. Clinically, most instances are attributed to dentin exposure, though individual teeth with intact enamel can also exhibit sensitivity.

3. Manifestations of Dentin Hypersensitivity

The primary manifestation of dentin hypersensitivity is irritative pain, triggered by stimuli like brushing, consuming hard foods, acids, sweets, cold, and heat, with mechanical stimuli eliciting the most pronounced sensitivity. The most reliable diagnostic method involves sliding a sharp probe over the tooth surface to identify one or more hypersensitive areas. Currently, the degree of tooth sensitivity can only be expressed through the subjective feelings of the patient.