Have you ever eaten something hot or cold only to feel immediate pain in your teeth or gums? When the enamel on your teeth begins to wear off or your gums have receded, your teeth may be more sensitive to the temperature. However, diet isn’t the only cause of this sensation; when winter hits, your teeth will naturally contract due to the cold weather which can cause pain. In severe cases, this can result in a shooting pain like biting into ice cream and may cause unnecessary stress on your teeth and gums. Keep reading to learn how you can mitigate the pain caused by sensitive teeth, nerves, and gums during cold weather.
Cold weather and your teeth
Extreme weather conditions can contribute to tooth pain that you’re already experiencing or result in sudden shooting pain either in the teeth or the gums. Although our teeth naturally decay over time and become much weaker in old age, temperature can actually increase the rate at which this happens. Over time, cracks can form in your teeth, revealing microscopic tubes under your enamel that are sensitive to temperature, food, and pressure. This is the same thing that you experience when you have a cavity, or gum disease, and is usually the result of months or years worth of poor oral habits.
Below the enamel is the core of your teeth called dentin. This area is covered in nerve fibers and if you have any issues with your enamel or gums like periodontal disease, you will be susceptible to pain from factors such as cold weather. Although weather can cause pain regardless of your oral health, you’re more likely to experience pain if you already have a dental condition. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons you may be experiencing seasonal pain in your teeth.
Causes of seasonal tooth pain
Seasonal tooth pain may be a sign that there is an underlying dental condition that should be treated by a dental expert. This may stem from worn down enamel, receding gums, or other dental conditions.
Tooth decay is a naturally occurring issue for everyone. However, if you’re experiencing significant tooth decay under the age of 60, you should see a dentist immediately.
Over Brushing may be the cause of your seasonal dental pain. Although it’s important to brush every day, brushing too much or too vigorously can wear down your enamel and expose your dentin.
Acidic foods are known to break down enamel. If you drink a lot of soda, coffee, tea, or juices, you may need to cut back on these to avoid seasonal tooth pain, and see a dentist to learn how you can protect your teeth.
Under/overbites are caused by improper tooth growth and jaw alignment. Although in some cases, this issue is purely aesthetic, severe underbites and overbites can lead to an unusual amount of pressure on certain parts of the jaw and teeth. This can result in pain or damage to your teeth or gums.
Periodontal disease is more common than you may think, especially in old age. Periodontal disease can make seasonal tooth pain worse.
These are just several of the reasons you may be experiencing seasonal tooth pain, especially in cold winter months. Although your pain may be temporary, it could be a sign of a more serious dental issue. If you’ve experienced tooth loss due to tooth decay or gum disease, dental implants may be right for you. Schedule an appointment with one of our periodontal experts at Same Day Implants today to see if single-tooth or All-On-4 dental implants are right for you.