How Winter Weather Affects Your Teeth

We’re no strangers to cold weather living in Windsor-Essex County! While we take precautions to keep our hands, ears and face warm during the coldest months of the year, we forget that our teeth could use some protection from the cold air as well. Sensitive teeth are incredibly common and many people suffer with the jolts of pain and discomfort on a regular basis. Your teeth are quite content with the moderate, cozy temperature inside your mouth so any exposure to extreme cold or heat, can bring on painful and irritating symptoms.

While your teeth are very strong and hard, they’re also porous and sensitive by nature. Generally speaking, being outside in the cold weather won’t irritate your teeth but it definitely has an effect on them. Any cold air you breathe in through your mouth comes into direct contact with your teeth and super sensitive gum line. When you close your mouth, temperatures return to normal and as this back-and-forth happens, your teeth settle and expand repetitively which can cause cracks or fissures in your teeth over time.

If you’re already experiencing this sensitivity to the cold air and colder temperatures in general, you can try a sensitivity toothpaste, an over-the-counter fluoride rinse or reach out to us to inquire about in-office treatments if at-home remedies aren’t working for you. Get in the habit of protecting your whole body from the cold temperatures in the winter in the same way that you protect your skin from the sun during the summer months. Try wearing a face mask that covers your mouth to regulate the temperature of your breath and practice breathing in through your nose.

Regular dental checkups will help more than anything else. Be sure to schedule checkups twice a year so we can help you spot any fine cracks and assist with alleviating your sensitivity before it becomes unbearable. Visit our contact page to send us a message or give us a call to book your next appointment.