When the air gets cold and dry, you’ll need to adapt. You have to pull out your scarves and winter coat and, if you have dry skin, some moisturizer. But you should also think about the way falling temperatures affect your mouth. Taking a few steps to prevent some common winter mouth issues can improve how you look and feel for the next few months. Here are some things you can do.
Carry Lip Balm
The dry winter air that sucks the moisture out of your skin does the same to your lips. If you aren’t careful, you could wind up with a smile that looks like a dried-up lake. Fortunately, taking care of your lips is easy; just carry around a little bit of lip balm with SPF protection when you leave the house. If you feel the corners of your mouth start to crack, apply a little bit to keep them looking smooth. Drinking water will also help prevent your lips from chapping, which leads to the next point…
Stay Hydrated
The saliva in your mouth is incredibly important. It begins digestion, and it carries away food particles to prevent plaque buildup. However, dry air can dehydrate you, which makes the salivary glands less efficient. That disrupts the mouth’s natural cleaning process. Staying hydrated will prevent your lips from chapping, but it will also keep your mouth from drying out. It’ll have no issue cleaning itself after you eat, so you won’t have to worry as much about food deposits leading to cavities.
Protect Sensitive Teeth
Some people have thinner enamel that exposes the layer of the tooth just underneath the surface. This is made up of a substance called “dentin,” which has a much higher concentration of nerve endings than your enamel. If you wear away too much of your surface enamel, your teeth might become more sensitive to hot and cold.
Teeth sensitivity is unpleasant at any time of the year, but in the colder months, it can become especially bothersome. If your sensitivity is going up as the temperature goes down, the best thing to do is to ask your dentist to recommend a specifically designed to help. These will protect your tooth’s nerve endings, reducing pain from extreme temperatures.
Taking care of your teeth and mouth can make the difference between being comfortable and uncomfortable this winter. Keep these simple tips in mind, and you’ll be able to enjoy the winter weather to the fullest.
About the Author
Dr. Nicholas Brong has been a family dentist for over a decade. He works hard to guide each of his patients toward their healthiest smiles. He does this by listening carefully to the needs of his patients and creating personalized care plans suited to them. Dr. Brong completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. Since then, he has completed a myriad of continuing education courses; he’s also a proud member of both the Minnesota Dental Association and the American Dental Association. If you have any questions about how best to take care of your teeth this winter, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (507) 288-1066.
