If your teeth are sensitive, the foods most likely to cause trouble are acidic, sugary, very cold or very hot, and hard. Acidic foods and drinks also wear enamel over time, which can make sensitivity worse. You don't have to give these foods up entirely. Having them with meals, rinsing with water afterward and waiting before you brush all help. If one tooth hurts more than the rest, have it checked, because food sensitivity can also be a sign of a cavity or crack.
Why do some foods make sensitive teeth hurt?
Under the enamel is a softer layer called dentin, which is full of tiny fluid-filled channels leading to the nerve. When enamel wears thin or gums pull back from the root, dentin is exposed. Cold, heat, sugar and acid then move the fluid in those channels and trigger a quick, sharp pain. [1] In a 2013 study of 787 adults at general dental practices in the northwest United States, about one in eight had this kind of sensitivity. It was more common in younger adults, women, and people with gum recession or who had whitened their teeth at home. [3] Our post on the causes of tooth sensitivity explains the reasons in more detail.
Which foods and drinks are most likely to trigger sensitivity?
1. Soda and sports drinks
Regular soda combines sugar and acid. Diet soda still has acid. Sports drinks and energy drinks are often just as acidic. Sipping them over an hour bathes your teeth in acid the whole time. [2]
2. Citrus fruit and juice
Lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges and pineapple are acidic, and so are their juices. Whole fruit with a meal is easier on teeth than juice sipped through the day or lemon water first thing every morning.
3. Tomatoes and tomato sauce
Tomatoes are nutritious and acidic. Eating them as part of a meal, rather than alone, gives saliva a better chance to neutralize the acid.
4. Ice cream and frozen treats
Cold is the most common trigger for sensitive teeth, and ice cream adds sugar. Letting it soften a little, or eating it off the front of a spoon, can help.
5. Hot coffee and tea
Heat can trigger the same sharp pain as cold. Letting the drink cool slightly helps. Adding sugar and sipping all morning adds acid exposure as well.
6. Hard candy
Lollipops, mints and other hard candy keep sugar in your mouth for a long time, and biting down on them can chip a tooth or a filling.
7. Sticky candy and dried fruit
Caramel, toffee, gummies and raisins cling to teeth and keep feeding plaque bacteria long after you've finished. Dried fruit is also acidic. [2]
8. Ice
Chewing ice combines cold with hard biting forces. It can crack teeth and fillings, sensitive or not.
How can I enjoy acidic foods with less sensitivity?
Have acidic foods and drinks with meals instead of on their own.
Drink acidic drinks rather than sipping them for hours, and use a straw if it helps.
Rinse with water afterward, or have some cheese or milk to help neutralize acid.
Wait about an hour after acidic food or drink before you brush, so softened enamel can reharden. [2]
Brush gently with a soft brush. Our post on brushing too hard explains why.
Try a desensitizing toothpaste. It helps many people with sensitivity from exposed dentin, used every day for a few weeks. See our toothpaste guide.
When is sensitivity more than a food problem?
See a dentist if sensitivity lasts more than a few weeks, centers on one tooth, lingers after the cold or heat is gone, or comes with pain on biting. Those patterns suggest a cavity, a crack, a leaking filling or an inflamed nerve, and avoiding foods won't fix them. Our guide to why a tooth hurts explains what each pattern tends to mean.
Where can I have sensitive teeth checked in Jacksonville?
Call our office at 904-398-1549 or contact us. Bring a list of the foods and drinks that set it off and the toothpaste you use. A comprehensive dental examination can find the cause, and once we know it, we can recommend treatments such as fluoride varnish, bonding over an exposed root or a filling.
Sources
American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Sensitive teeth. Accessed October 6, 2026.
American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Dietary acids and your teeth. Accessed October 6, 2026.
Cunha-Cruz J, Wataha JC, Heaton LJ, et al. The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in general dental practices in the northwest United States. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013;144(3):288-296. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2013.0116 (retrieved via PubMed)
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.