Are Your Teeth Causing Problems When You Eat?

Problems with your teeth and gums when eating is a good indication that it’s time to visit your Ipswich dentist.

Anyone who has healthy teeth should be expected to eat their food quite comfortably. Occasionally we may come across something that is particularly hard or chewy, but in general we should be able to eat without thinking too much about our teeth at all.

If we do experience problems when eating, whether this is an immediately noticeable issue, such as if we break a tooth, or where a problem develops much more slowly, it’s time to seek help.

If we are experiencing any difficulty at all when eating, whether that be pain, soreness or perhaps cutting our lips with a sharp edge, this is not normal and we strongly recommend that you contact the Foxhall Dental Practice so that we can check this for you and treat the problem as needed.

Let us take a look then at some of the problems we might encounter if all is not as it should be at mealtimes.

Untreated cavities

If you have cavities that you are not aware of, you may experience some discomfort when eating. This is especially likely where the food you are eating is sticky or chewy and may become trapped in the untreated cavities. If you have your teeth checked every six months, this should be less of a problem as any cavities that do form should be relatively small and can be filled before they become bigger.

Sensitive teeth

One of the most common reasons for discomfort when eating, or in this case drinking as well, is when a person’s teeth are sensitive. This can be caused by cracks or chips in the teeth but is often due to enamel erosion, where the tooth enamel wears away. This can happen for several reasons including teeth grinding, misaligned teeth and brushing too hard, but increasingly is being caused by our teeth coming into contact with high sugar and acidic drinks such as soft drinks and ‘sports’ drinks. Avoiding these and making sure you have regular check ups will help you to avoid this. If it is already a problem, fitting teeth veneers to your teeth may be a solution worth considering.

Gum disease

There are many symptoms associated with gum disease, and sore and inflamed gums are some of them. As you can imagine, this can cause some significant discomfort when you are eating food. The good news is that if this is detected early enough, it can often be reversed with a non-invasive procedure and improved brushing and flossing. Where more advanced gum disease (periodontitis) is present, the teeth may become loose and ‘wobbly’ and this can lead to discomfort and difficulty in eating as well.

Sharp edges on teeth

Providing that the inner part of the tooth has not been exposed when a tooth is cracked, you may not experience direct pain and discomfort when you eat, but the sharp edges of your teeth caused by this can lead to some of the soft tissues of the mouth, such as lips and tongue, to become grazed or cut. This can not only lead to bleeding but soreness as well. An exposed cut or graze can also become infected so if you are aware of a sharp edge on a tooth, contact our Ipswich dental clinic for an appointment to have the problem rectified.

Loose teeth

As mentioned earlier, loose teeth can be caused by gum disease or perhaps a tooth has been knocked in an accident. Whatever reason caused your tooth to become loose, this will cause difficulty in eating and you may not be able to chew your food properly, causing a compromised digestive process. This can lead to stomach problems too. If you attempt to eat harder foods with the loose tooth, you may cause further damage and the tooth may come out or have to be extracted. If you notice that a tooth is even a little bit wobbly, please contact us straight away.

Cracked or broken teeth

In addition to any sharp edges that might occur with a cracked or broken tooth, there is a real risk that the structure of the tooth has been compromised and is at risk of further damage if not restored promptly. Eating softer foods will help but this should only be a temporary measure until such a time that you can be seen by one of our dentists, and should not be used as an excuse to ignore the problem in the hope that it will go away. The reality is that it won’t, and instead of being able to restore the tooth with a filling or a crown, a further damaged tooth may have to be extracted, leaving you with dentures or dental implants as a replacement option.

Eating is essential for life but it should also be a pleasure. Having to eliminate certain foods because they are difficult or painful to chew is a sure sign that you need dental care rather quickly. Our team of experienced dentists will be able to recommend appropriate treatments once they have examined your teeth and allow you to eat your food of choice in the not too distant future.

If you have a difficulty with a tooth or would like to contact us about any of the treatments listed on our website, you can do so by calling the Foxhall Dental Practice today on 01473 258396.