Why Do I Have Sensitive Teeth in Winter?

We may feel the drop-in temperature in our toes, but we shouldn’t be feeling it in our teeth! Some of us experience a shock of tooth pain as we breathe in the crisp air or sip hot chocolate. Sensitive teeth are common in temperature extremes, so we notice it more during the winter season.

If you have any questions or concerns about your teeth sensitivity during the winter, then please feel free to contact us and we’ll get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.

If you experience sensitive teeth due to cold weather, it may be because of one of these reasons though:

Fortunately, our dentists can help you find a solution to relieve sensitive teeth and dental pain so that you can enjoy the snow and not worry about experiencing pain whenever you open your mouth.

Why Do My Teeth Feel So Sensitive?

Sensitive teeth are fairly common, yet shouldn’t be ignored.

At times, you may naturally feel tooth sensitivity when going from something like hot tea to cold water, or hot chocolate to cold milk. These are natural because our mouth gets used to one temperature but is then shocked by another.

Yet, sensitivity to a single beverage, whether hot or cold, is something you should make note of because your body may be trying to tell you something is wrong when it comes to sudden tooth sensitivity

As with most oral health issues, it’s best to treat sensitive teeth as soon as possible.

When teeth are healthy, they’re protected from temperature extremes by gums and a layer of enamel. However, plaque and tartar buildup can erode away your enamel and leave you defenseless against heat and cold.

Excessiveplaque and tartar can also trigger gum disease, which causes your gums to pull away from the teeth and expose more of the roots.

Those roots are what make you cringe in pain. Teeth roots are very sensitive, much like how a cut is sensitive to water.

In other cases, tooth sensitivity to cold or heat could be a sign of a cracked tooth or a cavity.

This is commonly spotted when someone drinks a cold or hot beverage and there’s always a sharp pain coming from a particular spot on their tooth, or multiple teeth. Most often that pain is because of cavities.

Oral pain should never be avoided, though, because a subtle pain could grow into a more dangerous oral health concern. For example, one of the signs of an abscessed tooth is prolonged tooth sensitivity to heat and cold, even after the stimulus has been removed.

If you experience tooth sensitivity that persists, schedule an appointment with one of our dentists as soon as possible. Leaving a pain unchecked could result in over $2,000 in dental work.

Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Brush Them?

If you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily, you may be wondering why you still have sensitive teeth.

The answer may be due to over brushing.

That’s right, you heard us correctly…over brushing is a thing.

While the American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth twice a day, you should make sure you’re not brushing too hard.

Also, make sure you’re using a toothbrush with soft bristles.

Brushing too hard can wear away your enamel, and cause your gums to recede and expose the roots of your teeth. Not only can this cause sensitive teeth, but it can also cause problems like periodontal disease.

Gently brushing your teeth twice a day is the best practice. A helpful strategy for people is to try and only let the tips of the bristles brush your teeth, not the sides of the bristles. If your bristles are bent out of shape or frayed, it may be time for a new toothbrush.

Can You Cure Sensitive Teeth?

Most of the time, yes, you can cure sensitive teeth.

Whatever the cause of your sensitive teeth this season, it’s important to get it checked out by one of our dentists. We can help you determine the cause, and find a solution.

Hopefully, the cure for your sensitive teeth is a simple change in your dental care regime, like using a sensitive toothpaste. Other times, a dental procedure may be needed to relieve your discomfort.

Need More Information on Sensitive Teeth?

If the wintry air makes your teeth hurt, we want to find the cause of your dental pain. Our dental team will act like detectives by examining your smile and medical history to find the cause of your sensitive teeth. We consider it an honor to be your trusted health partner and to keep your teeth healthy for life. Our dentists in Grand Rapids, MI believe that no one should suffer from dental problems without the hope of a solution. Feel free to reach out and contact Contemporary Family Dental online or by phone at (616) 209-3969.

This blog post has been updated.