December 7, 2020

Are your teeth feeling a little chilly? If yes, you’re not alone. When it comes to oral health, your teeth and gums are more susceptible to the icy sting of the cold weather during these winter months. It’s common to feel some form of mild discomfort, but if you are experiencing long-term tooth pain it could be the sign of an underlying issue.

At Ten Dental + Facial, our dental professionals aim to help find and treat the cause of your dental pain, so you can enjoy the outdoors no matter what the weather brings. To find out how the cold weather affects our teeth, here’s some useful information to take on board.

Sensitive Teeth

In response to extreme hot or cold temperatures, teeth naturally expand and contract. When breathing in cold air, little cracks or cavities in tooth enamel exposes the dentine and irritates the inner bundle of nerves below. This then leads to a sudden sharp jolt of pain we call tooth sensitivity.

The levels of sensitivity vary from person to person, and there are a number of reasons responsible for sensitive teeth and toothache:

  • Vigorous brushing:

Using hard-bristle toothbrushes, or simply brushing too harshly damages teeth and gums.

  • Tooth decay:

A build-up of plaque and dental calculus leads to further enamel erosion.

  • Large gaps or missing teeth:

A missing tooth or gap leaves the inner edges and sides of your teeth at higher risk of exposure to low temperatures.

  • Periodontal disease:

Gum recession caused by periodontal disease reveals the base of the tooth, making it vulnerable to not only tooth sensitivity, but other oral issues too.

  • Damaged crowns, fillings, or bridges:

If you have defective crowns or fillings, dental problems such as sensitive teeth and infection are likely to occur.

  • Types of tooth whitening agents:

Depending on the quality of the bleaching agent and how your teeth react, this can increase the levels of sensitivity. Read more about tooth whitening and sensitivity in our blog.

  • Teeth grinding and jaw clenching:

When it gets cold, we tend to shiver and clench our teeth together for warmth. This does not do your mouth justice, as it will wear the tooth enamel away and cause stiffness or pain in the jaw.

  • Dry mouth from blocked sinuses:

Sinus infections or inflammation can lead to toothache, especially in the upper back row of teeth. Plus, if your sinuses are blocked, your mouth will be drier and breathing in cold air will automatically hit those sensitive spots on your teeth.

 

Talk to the professionals

If you are suffering from frequent tooth sensitivity or pain, then it’s time to fix it. Acute tooth pain will demand a visit to your dentist for a thorough examination of your smile. As dental experts, we can provide you with appropriate treatment and recommend specialist, fluoride-based toothpaste or vanish to strengthen weakened enamel.

If necessary, for more complex endodontic cases, root canal treatment may be required to extract the dentin from inside the tooth – saving the tooth and removing the infection. Get in touch with one of clinics in Balham, Wandsworth or Clapham High Street, brighten your smile and relive you of your tooth sensitivity and pain for good.