sensitive teeth -- anyone??

[BDraw]

I can't figure out what to do about it. It is mostly noticable when I eat sweets, anything like dates, figs, raisens, or things made with those kind of sweets in them.

Any successes with solving the problem.

In other words: Help!

Thanks!

Oh, and no cavities are not the problem.

[Autumn]

I find rinsing my mouth out after all fruits, whole/dried/sticky/sweet helps a LOT. I don't brush every time because I think that would aggravate my condition, but I do swish very well and floss several times a day.

[Rawkinlocs]

I agree with Autumn...you MUST either rinse your mouth or at very least drink water after eating sweet fruits, especially if it's sticky stuff like dates or raisins!

Also after eating citrus it's a good idea to rinse so the acid doesn't just sit on your teeth. I have to admit I don't always do this...but then again, I haven't had much of an issue with sensitivity either to sorta "drive" me to do it! But if I were, I'd definitely heed to doing it more often!

[BDraw]

I understnad the idea of keeping the sweets out of the teeth and burshing to clean them to prevent further problems. . .so excuse me for sounding dumb, but how is rinsing your mouth suppose to help the pain while actually eating the sweet stuff?

[Rawkinlocs]

I understnad the idea of keeping the sweets out of the teeth and burshing to clean them to prevent further problems. . .so excuse me for sounding dumb, but how is rinsing your mouth suppose to help the pain while actually eating the sweet stuff?

Oopsie!!! I guess we both misunderstood your question...sorry

I think if it were me, I'd lay off of them for a while and eat LOTS of calcium-rich foods (sesame seed milk or grind up sesame seeds in smoothies; MORE greens) for a while and allow the body to heal that area of whatever may be going on within.

Also, I've never tried it, but I've heard a few times that swishing wheatgrass juice around in the mouth is supposed to actually help with that somehow.

Hope your teeth feel better soon and again, sorry for the misunderstanding!

[exurb]

Please note that there is scientifically proven increased dental risk with a raw foods diet. I am in favor of the diet, but we need to be empowered by that knowledge to take extra steps to protect our teeth.

Here is a link to a study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

It showed that in people with a minimum 95% raw food diet, they had about 200% the frequency of severe dental erosions than the control group.

Are you free of untreated cavities? Has your enamel been worn down for any reason? What do you normally brush your teeth with, and when? Do you eat a lot of vinegar-based salad dressing?

This diet seems to have so many benefits for me, but I don't think it is good to pretend that there are no concerns with it, if those concerns are known, we can potentially avoid them while still enjoying the other benefits. This is the same attitude expressed in Cousens article in the references here about B-12.

In being able to appreciate the dental risk, instead of turning a blind eye to it, I go out of my way to protect my teeth.

I think to get rid of the pain while you're eating those things like figs raisins, etc., you have a couple of options, one is to not eat those things and focus on the things that don't give you pain, and two is to better build your oral health, protect your enamel, gums, etc. I have two close friends who are dentists, I have discussed this at length with them.

[Alissa]

This is absolutely not true. First of all ive been raw for 18 years and my teeth are fine. If your eating lots of dried fruit and sweet fruits then ya, brush your teeth after! Just like you wouldn’t eat a bunch of candy and not brush your teeth after. Raw food does not make your teeth worse. The problem is that people stop using toothpaste and brushing and going to the dentist once they think they are raw long enough. Not a great idea for proper hygiene and good oral health. There are no hard facts about this. Take into consideration the long time raw fooders your getting these sources from. I know many long time raw fooders who’s teeth and gums are much healthier since they have been raw.
I think if you use common sense about this subject and BRUSH YOUR TEETH after you eat a lot of fresh or especially dried fruit you’ll have far better dental health then your cooked food friends.
Lets not use this scare tactic here folks. Ive seen the results of this diet on teeth health for 18 years not just with me but with others.
If you do have a problem with eating certain foods and sensitivity to your teeth and not being able to eat certain foods without pain then DON’T EAT THEM or brush your teeth! I have had this happen with oranges over time off and on. Right now im fine with them but I make sure I brush after a big bowl of them. I take it a sign that my body doesn’t want them any more at that particular time or that my enamel is sensitive from too much acid in the fruits. Cooked food people eat oranges also and this happened years ago for me as well, so it really has nothing to do with being raw.
Best,
Alissa

[Live Free]

I have the same problem with my teeth. It is just sensitive on one side. I started to swish the wheat grass juice in my mouth and that has seemed to help me, with my sensitivity.

I also have tried not to brush my teeth so hard. I looked it up online what coud be the cause of my tooth sensitivity and that listed about 8 things that could make your teeth sensitive to sweets.

You could go online and look it up. That way you can see if you have any of the listed condiditons. The website basically said that when you have a sweet tooth there isnt much you can do about it.

But try the wheat grass it has seemed to help me. I havent noticed any pain when eating dates, since I started drinking the wheat grass again.

[swiddweas]

I have sensitive teeth. i went to the dentist about it. He said it is actually normal to be sensitive to sweets, it means the teeth are viable. He told me to use Sensodyne toothpaste and to keep on using it always. It builds up the little holes in the enamel with floride and causes the teeth to be free of sensitivity. I know, because my teeth were once so sensitive that I could not eat anything without pain. Then I stared using Sensodyne toothpaste and no more pain, it is remarkable I tell you. No this is not a commercial

I have noticed now that I am 100 percent raw, my teeth and gums have never been healthier. My gums used to be red and swollen, now my gums are just barely pink and healthy. My teeth used to be yellowish, now they are white. I know it's my raw diet that's helping my teeth, not making them worse. The raw diet is the best diet you can have so why would it cause problems?

[BDraw]

Hey, thanks for all the information! I love the raw diet. My body loves the diet. I feel so much better on it. But my teeth are complaining. I do brush my teeth and dental floss twice a day. I do green smoothies almost daily.

I'm puzzled.

I've had the dentist check them. Even after filling two teeth, the pain persisted. Dentist can't find anything, but willing to apply more filling. I haven't gone back.

I use a tooth gell called Oral Comfort by Jason. Dentist recommended Sensodyne toothpaste, maybe I'll try that.

Oh, and no vinegar, lemon or any thing like that. Not even oranges, as they tend to make my collor bone ache. ????

See, I'm puzzled.

I'll start growing the wheat grass But, gee I do not like that stuff -- makes me feel or rather smell like a cow (personal problem of mine>being raised on a farm).

[rawcanadagirl]

BDraw,

I feel your pain! I have had sensitive teeth (to sweets) since I was young, and have tried everything to lessen the sensitivity. I must have been the only kid who wouldn't eat dessert (especially sweet fruit).
I have tried the sensodyne toothpaste (and still use it), but it hasn't completely alleviated the problem. My teeth are also sensitive to hot and cold.

Thanks for the info Alissa. I know that there has been alot of talk about the link between raw foods and dental problems. I have read many studies about this issue. My teeth (not gums) have always caused me problems (even though I am thorough in my brushing and flossing), and I was actually hoping that my teeth would improve with raw foods. I don't eat many sweet/acidic fruits (mainly because of the way they feel on my teeth) and I eat a TON of greens - hopefully this will help.
I am glad to hear that others have noticed improvement while raw - it makes me a bit more optimistic about my dental future!

RCG

[Alissa]

I'm bumping this up. These questions keep coming up.Please read the post above.

[greeninlosangeles]

Yes, Boutenko's had problem with teeth sensitivity too untill they started to use a lot of greens(almost two bunches a day per person). Then it stopped. So just keep eating those greens! As for dates, raisins and other dried stuff - it is rawfoodist junk, which is better than cooked, but certainly not our staple and it is probably not the best raw food anyway. I use it just in recipes. I don't even buy raisins often, because I am addicted to them and if I eat them alone I get digestive problems(like gass, sorry.)

[jaurequi]

I also don't have teeth sensitivity any longer. Probably the copious greens I consume daily.

Just a possibilty for those of you with teeth issues: If you were on a "fat free" or McDougall-type diet in the past, that diet can be very detrimental to teeth. Consuming lots of starch is like consuming lots of sugar; your teeth don't know the difference, they're both just sugar on the teeth.
As well, a high-grains (cooked) diet is acidic to the body and can also contribute to teeth problems.
In all probability, since most are not long-time rawfoods eaters, your teeth and gum issues are not from consuming raw foods, but from your past. These issues take years to develop.
If your body is now free to show you these issues, be glad and deal with it.
*Floss regularly* it is so important. I do it after I eat. You can get to be real fast at it

Best,

[Amberly]

My teeth are in poor condition due to soft enamel and saliva that doesn't do what it's supposed to do to protect my teeth (so says a couple of dentists). Sometimes I have severe toothaches that spread all over my head and sinuses. I find it is better after eating raw a while, even though intuitively I would think that raw food would be harsher. It's too the point that when I eat cooked I have to take a pain pill.

Could it be that raw will make my enamel harder and my saliva do its job?