Winter season is different from all the others. You must adjust to various parts of your life to support good health. In fact, you must make changes to skincare and hair care. Dental care is no different. Intentional measures can optimize your oral health in the cold season for long-term results all-year round.
The Importance of Oral Health Care in Winter
The primary reason why dentists in Pleasanton, CA, advocate for intent oral health tips during the cold season is that infections are more prevalent and easily spread in the winter. The cold weather increases the risk of communicable diseases, propagated by decreased humidity in the atmosphere. Therefore, if you were to catch an oral infection during winter, it can irritate your gums significantly, causing inflammation and dental pain.
The Effects of Cold Weather On Oral Health
It should not be a big adjustment to be more intentional with your oral health during winter. It is just a season that will come and pass in a few months. However, some patients need more convincing that oral health is crucial during winter. If you struggle to believe that the cold season can impact your oral health, consider the following effects:
- Heightened tooth sensitivity and dental pain – the dry cold air can cause your teeth to feel more sensitive than before. It is worse for patients who have weak teeth enamels due to erosion.
- Chapped lips – your lips can crack, chap, and dry out like never before during the cold season. The dry winds and low temperatures are harsh on the skin.
- Dry mouth – is also called Xerostomia. It is a condition where the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. The consequence is increased acidity, further leading to oral problems like dental cavities and gum disease. Dry mouth occurs during the cold season due to low humidity, which causes liquids to evaporate from the air and the body more quickly than usual.
- Cold sores – many people develop mouth sores in the gums, inner cheeks, and lips during the cold season. These sores can be very painful, especially if they are recurrent throughout winter.
- Respiratory issues – although your respiratory system differs from your oral cavity, they are intertwined. Conditions like the flu, colds and sinus infections are prevalent during cold seasons. If you get these diseases, your oral health is also affected.
Tips for Protecting Your Teeth and Gums in Winter
Some of the tips your Pleasanton family dentist will recommend for protecting your teeth and gums in winter include:
- Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your mouth and face – it lowers the risk of spreading infections in your mouth.
- Drink a lot of water – you must keep your body hydrated during winter. Hydrating your mouth increases saliva, reducing acidity and the risk of bacterial infection.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily.
- Cover your mouth with a scarf – it will help keep your mouth and upper body warm, reducing the risk of catching a cold, and other infections. Besides, covering your mouth works well when you breathe through your mouth. During winter, breathing through your mouth can invite dry and cold air into your mouth, which increases the risk of infections.
- Visit your dentist regularly – do not be shy to visit us at Elite Dental Implants and Orthodontics for routine dental checkups and cleanings. The cleanings help boost your oral hygiene while the checkups evaluate your oral cavity for any signs of infections.
- Use a humidifier in your house – it increases humidity in the air, which can complement drinking water to overcome dry mouth during the freezing season.
- Limit your intake of spicy or acidic foods – they can trigger mouth sores, which are very prevalent in the cold season.
- Avoid smoking – there is already too much dry air in the moisture. You do not need to incorporate smoke into the mix. Besides, smoking can aggravate inflammation, which worsens if you have a weak immune system due to various infections during winter.