Winter, Your Teeth and You!

Bring on the snow, but not the tooth pain!

The winter season can certainly be a magical time of year. From holiday gatherings with loved ones to crisp morning walks and fresh snowfall, there’s a lot to get excited about! And this session should be filled with joyful moments—not with moments of tooth sensitivity.

But along with this seasonal fun also comes a dip in temperatures that can actually have a surprising impact on the health of your teeth.

In Vancouver, the average Winter season hangs at around 2° celsius, but temperatures elsewhere in the province have been known to go down to 18°. In the rest of Canada, it’s typically much colder: the Prairies range from -4°c to -24°c, while the Northwest Territories (unsurprisingly) has one of the world’s coldest winter climates to contend with, ranging from an average high of -16°c to -32°c regularly.

But what kind of effect can this all have on our pearly whites? Does living in a climate as cold as Canada really have that much of an impact?

Science says yes: research confirms that prolonged exposure to cold weather can cause dental pain even when your teeth are healthy. The change in temperature causes the increased fluid movement within the middle layer of your teeth through something called “dentinal tubules”. When the mechanoreceptors located on the nerves within this middle layer are activated, they cause sharp and brief pain characteristic of dentine hypersensitivity.

Certain factors can make this cold-induced tooth pain even worse. For instance, gum recession, root exposure or cavities can make teeth more susceptible to temperature induced discomfort because tooth structures are missing and your nerve endings are exposed!

Other issues can also crop up more often in the winter as well: jaw and joint, for example, can be triggered by the cold and the dryness of the air can cause oral dehydration that leads to canker or old sores more easily than in other seasons.

Are your teeth hurting just reading this—who knew?! And importantly, what can be done about this?

A few key treatments for tooth sensitivity are available. For instance, you can protect your teeth during winter with several effective treatments. Over-the-counter desensitization toothpaste containing Potassium nitrate (eg. Sensodyne) or Arginine (eg. Colgate ProRelief) can either reduce nerve signal transmission or physically block dentin tubules openings, which can help reduce pain.

Higher fluoride concentrated toothpaste prescribed by dentist to use at home daily can also be another option. If you don’t believe in fluoride, toothpaste with casein phosphopeptide (CPP) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) may be your choice. CPP works by stabilizing calcium and phosphate ions in the form of ACP. ACP helps replace lost minerals in tooth enamel and can also help to reduce sensitivity.

However, CPP is derived from milk so it is not suitable for those with milk allergies. Fluoride treatments, like professional varnishes or dentin bonding or sealing agent (eg. Gluma) applied by a dentist, can strengthen your teeth and add physical barrier to exposed dentin.

When it comes to taking care of your body in cold water, make sure you’re doing that more than just bundling up this winter—don’t forget your teeth! We would be glad to help if you have any more questions on the subject, so feel free to reach out to our clinic for more info!