Is Cold Weather Hurting Your Teeth?
Is the cold wintry air making your teeth hurt? If so, this may be a sign of worn tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is what protects the inner layer of your teeth (dentin).
Once the enamel wears away, there is nothing to guard from hot and cold temperatures.
This is why you may experience a twinge of pain when your teeth are exposed to cold air or when sipping a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Will Tooth Sensitivity Go Away on its Own?
Most tooth sensitivity goes away on its own. However, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists if your teeth are sensitive for more than a day or two. Depending on your circumstances, tooth sensitivity could be a sign of a larger problem that needs to be addressed by our dentists.
You may have sensitive teeth due to:
- Brushing teeth too hard
- Sugary foods and drinks
- Dental plaque buildup
- Nighttime teeth grinding
- Excessive teeth whitening
- Gum disease
Don’t Ignore Tooth Sensitivity
It’s not uncommon for more patients to report tooth sensitivity during the winter months. However, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore tooth pain. Pain is your body’s way of telling you when something is wrong.
If you experience tooth sensitivity that lasts for more than a couple of days, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists as soon as possible. The longer you put off getting seen by a dentist, the more time you potentially give gum disease and cavities to worsen.
Read more: How to tell if your tooth is infected >>
Know That Tooth Sensitivity Can Indicate a Larger Problem
Tooth sensitivity could be a sign of a larger problem. For example, one of the first symptoms of gum disease is sensitive teeth due to receding gums.
Thankfully, gingivitis can usually be reversed with a professional teeth cleaning and educating the patient about the proper way to brush and floss teeth. The same can’t be said of periodontitis, which is an advanced gum disease.
Sensitivity can also be caused by a cracked tooth or cavity. If you eat a lot of sugary foods, your teeth may feel “fuzzy” or “rough” from all the plaque on your teeth. If left untreated, we may need to restore the tooth with a dental filling.
The sooner you schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, the sooner you can discover what’s causing your tooth sensitivity. While our dentists may just recommend a few changes to your oral hygiene routine, they could just as easily need to drill out tooth decay and place a filling.
Schedule an Appointment
To maintain a beautiful healthy smile, you’ll want to call our office as soon as you notice . Dental pain or discomfort should never be ignored, especially when a simple change may be all that’s needed to treat sensitive teeth.
For example, many patients have sensitive teeth after eating too many sweets, which increases the amount of plaque on their teeth.
Having your teeth cleaned by a professional can remove dental plaque so you don’t continue to experience tooth sensitivity. If the problem is more serious, our dentists will be able to detect the signs of gum disease or tooth decay so you can get treatment as soon as possible.
Call the Bander Dental Group
Experiencing tooth pain? Our emergency dentists in Grand Rapids, MI are accepting new patients! Request an appointment with the Bander Dental Group at (616) 949-5980.