What Are Ways to Combat Winter Mouth Issues?

Delicious soups, wood fires, curling up under an electric blanket – there are some enjoyable aspects to the winter season. It also brings about several winter mouth issues that can cause trouble for your oral health. Fortunately, your dentist in East Islip has some tips that can help you make it to spring in one piece. Keep reading to learn how to face the chilly weather while preserving your face in the process.

Tip 1: Keep Calm and Stay Warm

When you have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, wearing warm clothing can help control jaw pain, since your joints and muscles tense up in chilly weather. Simply staying warm helps reduce any clenching or tightening in the jaw area.

Tip 2: Drinking Water in Winter Is a Refreshing Idea

When you have an insufficient amount of saliva, it results in what is commonly referred to as “dry mouth.” From taking certain types of medication to medical treatments like chemotherapy to smoking, there are a lot of causes of dry mouth. Dry winter air can exacerbate this issue, so it’s crucial to drink plenty of water throughout the day. It will also help hydrate your skin and prevent chapped lips.

Tip 3: Not Just Any Toothpaste Will Do

If drinking hot cocoa or apple cider brings about sharp, short-duration pain in your teeth, you may have sensitive teeth. When your tooth enamel is weakened and breaks down, the layer below it – dentin – gets exposed to foods and beverages to cause discomfort. Cold temperatures can also be troublesome in this case. Using toothpaste for sensitive teeth protects exposed dentinal tubules from harm and makes ingesting items with hot or cold temperatures a more comfortable experience.

Tip 4: A Humidifier Is a Win for Your Skin

With less humidity in the air during the winter months, your skin is more prone to drying out and becoming cracked. Using a humidifier in your home adds extra moisture to the air to help keep your skin and lips healthy.

Tip 5: Don’t Forget to Bring Your Lip Balm

The skin on your lips is delicate and chaps easily, making it very susceptible to cold, dry air. Using a lip balm with SPF is important for protection from the sun, even in the winter, and to keep them moisturized.

If you are partial to these chillier months of the year, and even if you aren’t, you want to feel good and not be struggling with sensitive teeth or chapped lips. Once you have been implementing these tips from your East Islip dentist for a week or two, they’ll become second nature and make the winter season a time you can warmly embrace!

About the Author

Dr. Gary Rosenfeld earned his dental doctorate from Columbia University. His favorite aspect of being a dentist is the ability to improve his patients’ lives. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Rosenfeld can offer further advice on dealing with winter mouth issues during your next checkup and cleaning. Schedule one on his website or call (631) 581-8600.