Americans are becoming more and more hooked on spicy foods, with hot sauce giving ketchup a run for its money as the nation’s most popular condiment. Perhaps you’ve wondered whether all this hot stuff can do any damage to your oral health. Well, our friendly family dentist at Caring Dental is going to address this burning issue in today’s installment!

The concentration of capsaicin, which is responsible for doling out the heat in your favorite spicy dishes, isn’t usually high enough to directly damage teeth or gums, according to the American Dental Association. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some drawbacks to being a fire-eater!

If you have receding gums or exposed dentin (the softer layer right under the tooth’s hard enamel), capsaicin in spicy foods can trigger sensitivity, including burning or tingling, according to the American Academy of Oral Medicine.

Acidic ingredients often found in spicy foods, like vinegar in hot sauce or tomatoes in curries, can irritate gum tissue, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Keep that in mind if you suffer from gum disease.

Spicy dishes can stain your teeth, especially if paired with dark teas or red wine, cautions the ADA.

To moderate the effects of spicy foods, try the following:

• Drink plenty of water during and after spicy meals to dilute the capsaicin and wash away food particles.
• Soothe irritated gums after a spicy meal with dairy products like milk or yogurt.
• Moderation is the key, as it is with most things. Limiting your intake of highly spicy foods will avoid excessive oral irritation.
• And, of course, brush and floss thoroughly after a spicy meal to remove food particles and bacteria that can worsen irritation.

Our dentist at Caring Dental encourages you to contact us if you have been experiencing persistent discomfort or irritation after eating a spicy meal. We’ll assess whether there’s an underlying condition and recommend solutions for managing sensitivity or gum issues.