A sore throat on the tongue and teeth: why it occurs and how to get rid of it


What is sore throat

The word "on edge" means "an astringent sensation in the mouth." The phrase “to set one’s teeth on edge” is often used in everyday life. When they use it, they mean something unpleasant and boring, something that irritates everyone. In general, the concept comes from the outdated word “skomit”, which means “whining”, “to hurt”, “to pinch”.


The condition may occur when eating acidic foods

A sore throat on the tongue or on the teeth is an unpleasant sensation, pain and discomfort that occurs when interacting with irritants, which most often include sour foods and drinks. It’s not for nothing that there is such an old saying: “If you love currants, you can set your teeth on edge.”

Excessive consumption of acidic foods leads to the leaching of calcium from the hard tissues of the teeth, making them more porous and susceptible to any external influence.

This phenomenon quickly passes after eating. It can appear in completely healthy people, but most often indicates the presence of problems in the oral cavity.

Why does the tongue set on edge?

Some patients complain not only of teeth set on edge, but also of increased sensitivity of the tongue when eating sour foods. In this case, the pathology may be caused by a disease such as glossitis. In this case, the tongue may have cracks, ulcers or open wounds that bleed or are covered with plaque.

The problem may arise due to injury to a muscle organ as a result of biting, malocclusion, wearing a piercing, or a burn. Due to the presence of damaged and chipped teeth in the mouth, poorly installed dentures, crowns and worn fillings.

The most common causes of the problem

Doctors believe that the reason for the appearance of a sore throat on the tongue or teeth is most often associated with increased sensitivity, or scientifically called hyperesthesia, of hard and soft tissues. Why does sensitivity occur? There are certain prerequisites for this:

  • caries,
  • bruxism,
  • malocclusion,
  • glossitis, cracks, ulcers and erosions on the tongue,
  • inflammation of the mucous membrane and periodontal tissue1 (generalized gingivitis and periodontitis),
  • thin enamel that has cracks and chips,
  • exposure of the necks of the teeth,
  • non-carious pathologies: wedge-shaped defect, hypoplasia,
  • pathological abrasion of enamel,
  • bad habits: biting floss with teeth, opening bottles.


Cracks in the tongue may be the cause of the problem
“There was a period when I constantly had chips on my teeth. It was clear to me why she appeared. During pregnancy, I became addicted to salty and sour fruits. I couldn't live a day without it!!! During the examination, the dentist noticed that my teeth were all covered with small cracks and began to crumble, and prescribed enamel strengthening and vitamins (although I already took them). He also banned everything sour and prescribed Tus Mousse paste. It’s expensive, but after it the situation really improved.”

Dina1990, review from woman.ru

Often teeth set on edge occurs in people who have recently undergone orthodontic bite correction with braces, or in those who have undergone whitening. Some studies also suggest that patients with intolerance to metal dentures often complain of sore throat2.


The presence of orthodontic structures in the mouth can cause discomfort

If you are addicted to sour foods (apples, berries, sauces, tomatoes, sauerkraut and marinades, citrus fruits, fresh juices and sour wines) and consume them in large quantities, then it is unlikely that you will be able to avoid setting your teeth on edge. Moreover, love for these foods and drinks can result in erosion and thinning of the enamel.

What is it: delving into the definition

According to the definition from Wikipedia, a sore throat is the sensation of an astringent, tart acid in the mouth.
The word oskoma is often used in conversation, while the Belarusian pronunciation is askoma. The astringent sensation is similar to the numbness after anesthesia. This is usually a short-term reaction to an excessive stimulus. A large amount of acid, penetrating deeply into the porous structure of hard dental tissues, reaches the nerve endings. As a result, a sore throat appears. It often causes mild discomfort in the mouth, which quickly disappears. With increased sensitivity of tooth enamel or mucous membrane (hyperesthesia), aching pain occurs that lasts a long time and intensifies when biting or pressing.

Teeth set on edge occurs when consuming:

  • cold or hot drinks, solid food:
  • products, fruits and berries containing high amounts of acid;
  • highly carbonated drinks, especially if they contain phosphoric acid.

In some cases, pain occurs when inhaling cold air. Sweet and spicy foods can also set your teeth on edge.

Stages of pathology development

You will be surprised, but a sore tongue or teeth that appears from sour food is not even the first stage. When the mucous membrane and hard tissues begin to react to the acidity, spiciness or sweetness of foods, doctors diagnose a moderate degree of pathology. At the very first or initial stage, the enamel and mucous membranes of the oral cavity react to the temperature of food, in particular, cold and hot (or sudden changes).


There are several stages of disease development

Doctors also identify an advanced stage, in which the sore throat and characteristic discomfort do not go away immediately after eating food. Pain is also added at this stage due to mechanical effects on the mucous membrane or enamel, for example, during daily oral hygiene.

Prevention is easier than cure - measures to prevent the problem

Professional doctors believe that sore throat can be easily avoided if you follow a number of preventive (prophylactic) measures.

Diet restrictions

You should not alternate cold and hot foods or get too carried away with sweet, spicy, salty, and sour foods. It is better to first separate solid foods into several small pieces. It is necessary to exclude from the diet carbonated drinks with phosphoric acid (Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta), which destroy and thin the enamel. You should also avoid eating sticky foods, crackers, chips and popcorn.

It must be remembered that teeth set on edge often appears due to careless treatment of enamel, so forget about cracking nuts and husking seeds with your teeth.

Using the right products to clean your teeth and gums

It will be better if you purchase personal hygiene products (paste, type of brush, type of floss and irrigator) after consulting a dentist, who will give valuable advice. The doctor will be guided by the condition of the gums, teeth and mucous membranes, and the presence of certain diseases.

Teeth whitening only in dentistry

Give preference to professional methods and whitening products used in dentistry. Remember that whitening pastes and folk remedies for home use (soda, salt, charcoal, lemon) can cause significant harm to the enamel and mucous membranes of the oral cavity, and the effect will be much more modest than what you get in dentistry.

Ways to combat sore throat at home

A sore throat on the tongue or teeth causes anxiety, and you want to get rid of it. To do this, doctors advise following several rules:

  1. you need to reduce the consumption of sour, salty, spicy foods: no irritant - no discomfort. And the sore throat on the tongue goes away faster, since cracks and wounds formed as a result of damage or diseases of the muscle organ heal better,
  2. to reduce discomfort and negative effects on enamel and mucous membranes, you can drink sour drinks and freshly squeezed juices through a straw,
  3. After eating sour food, you need to rinse your mouth and remove any remaining food. Alkaline compounds help to neutralize the effect of acid: a solution of soda in water (1 teaspoon of baking soda per glass of warm water), mineral water with bicarbonate. You can also use milk
  4. It is necessary to use toothpastes for sensitive teeth.


Rinsing your teeth with water after eating food will help relieve the symptom.
If sore throat occurs rarely and goes away within 30 seconds after eating food, then there is no need to worry. If the problem appears again and again, then you need to contact a dentist, who will determine the true cause of the pathology and prescribe professional treatment.

How to restore oral comfort

Knowing how to get rid of teeth on edge is especially important if this feeling occurs frequently. A dentist can help solve the problem.

If astringent sensations and an unpleasant aftertaste are rare, there is no need to worry. Constant sore throat is an alarming sign. This is evidence of problems not only in the mouth. They may be minor and do not require complex treatment. An examination is necessary to find out how serious the reasons are for oscoma.

There is no need to let the problem get worse. It is necessary to visit a dentist at any stage. It is easier to find out and eliminate the cause than to deal with severe complications.

Light soreness can be removed by rinsing with a solution of soda, sea or regular salt.

Dissolve a teaspoon in a glass of water at room temperature and rinse your mouth several times a day. Brush your teeth with any toothpaste for hypersensitivity - the discomfort will go away. Regular milk may help.

If the cause is related to a thermal irritant, these methods will not be suitable, however, unpleasant symptoms can be reduced by pressing the tongue against the diseased tooth for a few minutes. It is also recommended to use special coatings for enamel. They are applied in the dentist's office or at home, but after consultation with a doctor.

Oscoma, which occurs due to abrasion of the enamel or exposed neck, goes away with the use of special gels and pastes that reduce tooth sensitivity. Those who suffer from tooth decay are advised to use rinses containing fluoride.

In later stages, it is more difficult to get rid of sores on the teeth and tongue. It is important that the dentist prescribes effective treatment. Remineralization can be used, that is, restoration of tooth enamel and increasing its resistance. There are various procedures that involve applying a special varnish or solution. They will be prescribed by your doctor when you visit the dental clinic.

Treatment methods that dentists can offer

Treatment of sore teeth, as a rule, comes down to eliminating their increased sensitivity by strengthening hard tissues through fluoridation and remineralization procedures. If the problem not only causes discomfort, but is also complicated by the loss of smile aesthetics, when the enamel-dentin layer begins to crumble, deteriorate and chip, then the doctor may suggest the installation of veneers and lumineers, and prosthetic crowns.


Fluoridation will help strengthen tooth enamel

As for the sore tongue, the pathology is not always associated with dietary habits; it may be a consequence of inflammation of a muscle organ or a disease such as glossitis. In this case, the patient requires specialized treatment: taking anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, rinsing with antiseptic solutions, ointments for accelerated tissue regeneration.

Read the article on the topic “10 types of glossitis with photos,” which will make everyone wary.

The doctor also treats concomitant diseases, the elimination of which allows you to get rid of the feeling of soreness for a long time, for example, caries, periodontal inflammation, bruxism.


Dental treatment can help resolve the problem

It must be emphasized that in rare cases, the sore throat is caused by cracks in the tongue, the cause of which can be not only mechanical damage and inflammatory processes, but also diseases of the internal organs (for example, the thyroid and pancreas). But in any case, with the problem, you should first contact a dentist, who will rule out pathologies in his area and after that refer you for examination to specialized specialists.

Treatment of a sore tongue

If your teeth are set on edge, then you now know what to do. But if you are bothered by such unpleasant sensations on the tongue, then, as mentioned above, in most cases this indicates glossitis. There are many types of glossitis (allergic, herpetic, ulcerative, viral, hypertrophic, and so on). Each type of pathology is treated differently. To accurately determine the type and cause of this disease, you need to consult a doctor.

Read the article on the topic: “Symptoms, treatment, dental care for glossitis.”

Depending on the cause of the pathology, the doctor will prescribe a list of medications: antiseptics, antibiotics, ointments and antifungals.

Preventive measures against sore throat

  • Avoid alternating cold and hot dishes (for example, you should not drink ice cream with coffee), and avoid eating too hot food and drinks: temperature changes contribute to the destruction of enamel, the appearance of small cracks, and often become a prerequisite for the development of teeth set on edge. Too hot food also irritates the oral mucosa, which can cause a burn and sore tongue,
  • try to eat less sour foods: if you like apples, then you can switch to non-acidic varieties; if you have tea with lemon, then it is better not to add lemon to the drink, but eat it as a bite,
  • it is important to avoid carbonated drinks, especially those containing phosphoric acid (Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola), as they literally “dissolve” the enamel,
  • do not use highly abrasive pastes and do not abuse whitening procedures,
  • use hygiene products that suit your clinical case: it will be better if the dentist recommends a brush and paste,
  • Do not open bottles with your teeth, do not bite threads, do not bite nails and pencils, do not crush seeds and nuts.


Do not open bottles with your teeth.
Among other things, treat dental diseases in a timely manner. To identify them, it is enough to undergo preventive examinations at the dentist twice a year.

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  1. Veizay I., Gvozdikova E.N. Increasing the effectiveness of conservative treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases by optimizing methods of professional oral hygiene // Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal. – 2015.
  2. Kuznetsova O.A., Gubanova E.I., Shemonaev V.I. Pathophysiology of intolerance to metal dentures // Volgograd Medical Scientific Journal. – 2013.

Consulting specialist

Orlova Elena Vladimirovna

Doctor rating: 9.5 out of 10 (2) Specialization: Dentist-therapist Experience: 33 years

Tips and tricks from experts

We figured out what to do if a sore spot appears on your teeth, and how you can remove it yourself. Now let's move on to the question of how to prevent the development of hyperesthesia and its unpleasant consequences. Here's what experts recommend in this regard:

  • Treat your teeth with care and avoid any traumatic factors. When choosing a suitable toothpaste and brush, it would be a good idea to consult with a specialist, and you certainly shouldn’t open bottles with your teeth or crack nut shells,
  • maintain oral hygiene, do not forget to brush your teeth twice a day, use floss, preventive rinses and preferably an irrigator,
  • Avoid sudden temperature changes in food and drinks. Rinse your mouth after eating sweet and sour foods,
  • When the first signs of a problem appear, immediately go to the doctor.


Maintaining oral hygiene will help reduce the risk of pathology.
The most important thing is to seek professional help in a timely manner. Do not put off visiting a specialist if you often experience a feeling as if your teeth are set on edge. This may be a signal of more serious pathological processes that require urgent action. The dentist will help you recognize the problem in a timely manner, so you need to visit him for prevention at least twice a year.

  1. Bokaya, V.G. Deep fluoridation in the treatment of dental hypersensitivity, 2000.

Comments

I really love all sorts of sour foods, I adore berries and I eat a lot of them, but I’ve never had a sore throat before... Is it necessary to rinse your mouth after such food?

Alena (04/21/2020 at 03:08) Reply to comment

    Dear Alena, not all people get set on edge, but teeth are gradually destroyed under the influence of large amounts of acid, and non-carious lesions (erosion, for example) may appear on them, so you still need to reduce your intake of sour foods. And yes, you need to rinse your mouth with water after eating such food.

    Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (04/28/2020 at 09:24) Reply to comment

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The meaning of the word "set your teeth on edge"

Source (printed version):

Dictionary of the Russian language: In 4 volumes / RAS, Institute of Linguistics.
research; Ed. A. P. Evgenieva. — 4th ed., erased. - M.: Rus. language; Polygraph resources, 1999; (electronic version):
Fundamental electronic library

OSKO'MINA

, s,
plural
no,
w.
(colloquial). Usually in the expression:

eating something. sour or tart, or make it difficult for your mouth to chew something for a long time.

There are no ripe berries, you’ll immediately set your teeth on edge.

Krlv.
|| trans.
In the same expression: to be fed up with something, to get bored.
He will come with conversations only to set your teeth on edge.
A. Ostrvsky.

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