5 Reasons Your Teeth Are Sensitive In Winter
If you find that you’ve got teeth sensitive to cold weather or are experiencing general soreness during this time of the year, you’re not alone.
Tooth Sensitivity
16 August 2022
As we shiver through another freezing cold winter, many Australians once again battle with a range of illnesses brought on by the icy weather. Sore joints, aching muscles and arthritic pain aren’t caused by the cold alone, but the low temperatures do exacerbate the symptoms, making them more difficult to deal with. Did you know, however, that there’s another area of your body commonly affected by the colder months? Your mouth – or more specifically – your teeth.
If you find that you’ve got teeth sensitive to cold weather or are experiencing general soreness during this time of the year, you’re not alone. Many people around the world experience this condition, due to a range of different contributing factors. Below, we take a look at the relationship between weather changes and tooth pain, giving you some tips to help during winter.
1. Severe Temperature Changes Causing Tooth Pain
The structural makeup of your teeth means that they expand in warm conditions and contract in cold temperatures. This change in size is negligible during the course of a normal day – we’re talking about expansion on a microscopic level. However, spending a large amount of time outside in the cold and then entering a very warm home can be a drastic change for your teeth. This can cause extreme, sudden contraction of the enamel, leading to small cracks in the tooth – which will cause you pain. The better condition your teeth are in, the less likely this is to occur. Maintaining good oral hygiene and ensuring you limit your exposure to extreme temperatures will help to avoid this sort of situation.
2. Sickness - Why Do My Bottom Teeth Hurt When I Have A Cold?
This time of the year will inevitably see a rise in viruses like influenza and, of course, Covid-19. With compromised immune systems because of the weather, we’re more likely to end up catching these highly contagious viruses. With these illnesses come a whole range of related conditions, like throat and sinus infections, that put pressure on and inflame the nerves around our nose and mouth. It’s common, because of this, to experience pain and sensitivity in your teeth due to the close proximity.
Another contributing factor may be your Vitamin D intake. This essential vitamin comes from the Sun and helps with a range of functions within our bodies, including creating healthy teeth and protecting us from viral infections. During the winter months we see significantly less sunshine, reducing the amount of the vitamin we naturally absorb through our skin. Vitamin D helps your blood to absorb calcium, the main material your teeth are made up of. A lack of this vitamin will not only make you more susceptible to catching a virus, but also inhibit your body’s ability to strengthen your teeth.
Vitamin D supplements are available at most chemists and supermarkets. Your doctor will be able to tell you if your levels are low with a simple blood test.
3. Eating Hot Food And Drinks Causing Tooth Sensitivity
We all enjoy a nice warm beverage on a cold winter’s night. The colder months often bring with them a preference for warmer dinners too – ditching the salads for soups, stews and other piping hot meals. While it’s often believed that tooth sensitivity only relates to cold food and drinks, this isn’t the case. You’re just as likely to experience pain from sensations that are too hot, high in sugar or very acidic. Sensitivity can be caused by a number of factors, like gum recession and an erosion of enamel because of poor oral hygiene. If you need to stop sensitive teeth pain immediately, the best course of action is switching to a toothpaste that specialises in resolving this problem. Regular use of sensitive toothpastes will see the tiny gaps in your enamel re-filled by the ingredients found in these over-the-counter products.
4. Laziness - Not Keeping Up With Your Dental Routine
We all get a little lazier during the colder months. It’s understandable. It can be harder to find the inspiration to be productive when it’s near impossible to go outside. It’s important, however, not to let your oral hygiene routine fall behind. Studies conducted by health fund HCF showed that during the 2021 lockdowns a staggering 2.7 million Australians had chosen to skip brushing their teeth – feeling as if there was no reason to undergo this vital hygienic practice.
Your teeth act as a gateway for your entire body and are responsible for a lot more than you might think. Maintaining good oral health isn’t something you should do for others, it’s something you need to do for yourself. Neglecting your teeth during these “hibernation periods” can lead to not only increased pain and sensitivity but also very serious oral conditions down the line.
5. Actual Dental Issues Causing Tooth Pain
Finally, and perhaps most obviously, is legitimate oral conditions. Your teeth may simply be hurting because you’re experiencing a range of conditions like:
- Tooth decay
- Cracked teeth
- Broken fillings
- Gum disease
- Wisdom teeth
- Teeth grinding and more
We’re not immune to experiencing these sorts of problems at any point in time and they can often strike quite unexpectedly.
If you’ve got teeth sensitive to cold weather, need a filling, a cosmetic dental procedure or just want a check up, visit Innovative Dental today. Our clinic provides a range of dental services from our team of fully qualified professionals. Book online today or contact us on 0412-284-312.
