It has been a frigid winter! With record-breaking low temperatures and increasing quantities of snowfall, it almost feels like Antarctica here in Arkansas. Most of us know about winterizing our house, putting air in our car’s tires, and putting on extra clothing layers to protect our valuables from the colder months. But did you know that your teeth can also be impacted by the cold and can use protection as well? Let’s take a look at some key ways to care for our teeth for the remainder of this winter:
Pay attention to temperature sensitivity
Do your teeth ever become uncomfortable when you quickly eat something extremely hot or cold? The same phenomenon can occur when our teeth are exposed to extremely cold outdoor temperatures. This discomfort occurs when tooth enamel or gums wear down, exposing a layer of your teeth that’s very sensitive to temperature: Dentin.
Dentin is one of the major components of our teeth located beneath our enamel. This large portion of our teeth contains microscopic tubules. When the protective enamel or gums surrounding our dentin wear down, the tubules allow heat or cold to stimulate the nerves and cells inside our teeth which causes increased sensitivity.
Caring for sensitive teeth
If you go about your day and notice an increase in tooth discomfort in cold weather, or that the discomfort is lasting longer, it’s probably time to make a special trip to the dentist. Although our teeth are susceptible to feeling the drastic changes in temperature, lingering pain or discomfort can be a sign of bigger issues at hand. Some of these could be a crack in a tooth, a cavity, decay, or other dental issues. To best protect your oral health and avoid any serious issues, it’s best to make a call to the office sooner rather than later to be checked out. As always, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry!
Help your teeth feel the best they can during these winter months and continue with your routine oral care. This includes visiting Dr. Drew and Crew! If you are experiencing any discomfort or sensitivity to the winter cold, give us a call and we will help you get back to feeling your best!