Jan
28

Top 4 Winter Dental Issues

The winter can be a difficult time because of the cold temperatures (although this year hasn’t been too bad so far). Here are a few dental and mouth issues that we see more of in the winter.

 

  1. Dry Mouth – The winter means that your body in general will be more dry than in the summer. It doesn’t help that you usually have the heat on for most of the day, which makes your nose, throat, mouth, skin, etc. very dry. To battle cotton mouth, drink more water and try to stay away from consuming a lot of alcohol and caffeine. A humidifier can also help combat the dryness.
  2. Sensitive Teeth – Remember that time you had a cold beverage or a spoonful of ice cream and you shivered right to the core? Cold air can have the same affect and make your teeth feel more sensitive. Try using a toothpaste that is geared towards sensitive teeth and make an appointment with your dentist if it gets worse over time. The cold wind might be exposing a cavity you didn’t realize you had before.
  3. Cold Sores – Having chapped lips aren’t the same thing as having cold sores, however they do have at least one thing in common; they’re more prevalent in the winter. Cold sores can be triggered by stress, hormones or extreme tiredness. To prevent cold sores your overall health has to be good. You can try to shield your face from the wind with scarves or turtlenecks and chapstick. Also the less you touch your cold sores, the faster they will heal.
  4. Infection – Your gums are at a higher risk for infection because your body generally has to work harder to stay healthier in the cold weather. With your immune system being barraged left and right with flus, colds, and general aches and pains due to the cold, your mouth may not have the protection it needs to keep an infection from setting in. The best way to protect yourself is to keep your teeth and general oral hygiene as clean as possible so that bacteria doesn’t have a chance.

 

Dr. Lorraine Burio of Candlewood Dental Care has been practicing in the New Fairfield, CT area for over twenty-five years. If you have any questions or dental issues, call us at 203-746-1200 or make an appointment online here.