Well Chicago, winter is here! The cold winter weather affects every aspect of our daily life—the way we dress, what we do, and even what we eat/drink. But did you know that the cold weather actually affects your mouth too? Below are some of the ways that freezing temps affect your oral health.
Sensitive Teeth
Your teeth may be sensitive to the cold weather. Breathing in cold air can cause your teeth some pain. In order to avoid this, you can breathe through your nose as much as possible. Keeping your mouth closed will shield your teeth from the cold air.
Some amount of discomfort is normal when your teeth come in contact with cold air, but excessive pain could mean something more. If you are in more pain than it seems like you should be when you breathe in cold air or when you drink cold liquids, it could mean one of many things:
• Old fillings that don’t fit
• Eroded crowns & bridges
• Cracked or chipped teeth
• Cavities
• Infections
• Exposed roots
• Receding gums
These can be serious problems for your mouth, so if you are feeling extreme sensitivity to the cold, you’ll want to get it checked out by a dentist as soon as possible to avoid the problem getting any worse.
Battling Sensitivity
To battle a sensitive set of teeth, there are several things you can do. Keeping up on good oral hygiene is the first. Visit the dentist regularly and brush and floss twice daily. There are many options for toothpaste that help with sensitive teeth, so look for this on the label. Consider rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash daily as well. Fluoride helps teeth become strong and resistant to sensitivity.
To get your mouth checked for any of the signs above, make your appointment with Family Dental Care today!
