Seasonal Impact On Our Teeth And Gums
As Autumn arrives, our Wickford dentists look at how changes we make might not be good news for our oral health.
It’s been a good summer for sure and few would argue with that, particularly given the amount of sunshine and warmth we’ve had. Sadly, for many of us, it is now coming to an end and despite the attempts to hang on to the sunshine, there is definitely a cooler feel in the air. Within a few weeks, most of us will have dug out our warmer clothes and started planning for the colder and darker days ahead.
This happens every year of course, and we become accustomed to it, making changes in what we wear, what we do, and very often in what we eat and drink. The latter especially are factors that we are interested in as dentists as they can have a negative impact on teeth and gums if we don’t take care. In today’s blog then,we will take a look at some of the things that our Cygnet Dental Practice patients should be aware of, and what they can do to maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout the various seasonal changes.
Food and drink
One obvious thing that changes as the weather cools down is that we change what we eat and drink to a large extent. A crisp cool salad or an ice cold beer don’t really have the same appeal when it gets colder. We are more likely to eat foods that are higher in sugar (and fat) in a bid to feel warmer and more comfortable. Puddings become more appealing as do convenience foods which are also often full of sugar.
When it comes to drinks, we may drink more hot chocolate etc instead of tea. Especially if you drink some of the ‘speciality’ coffees and similar from coffee shops, these can be extremely high in sugar and should ideally be avoided except perhaps, on special occasions. If you can, try to moderate consumption of these foods as much as possible and cook your own food to avoid too much additional sugar in your diet. Sugar is a major factor in tooth decay and also provides food for the bacteria in our mouth that can lead to gum disease.
Dehydration
We tend to think of dehydration as a summer problem but this is not entirely true. While we more obviously sweat when it is hot, we can still become dehydrated in autumn and winter, especially if we take part in sports. Mouth breathers too are more likely to suffer from a dry mouth which can contribute to gum disease. Even if you are not especially active, you should still drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated. As our heaters go on in our homes, the air becomes drier and it is good advice to make sure to drink water throughout the day to avoid becoming dehydrated.
Sensitive teeth
This is likely to be noticed more by those who spend time outdoors and especially those who breathe through their mouth rather than the nose. While sensitive teeth can occur at any time and may be noticed when eating or drinking, the cold air against them can also cause some significant discomfort. If this happens to you, you should ask one of our Wickford dentists to check it out for you. There are a number of reasons why this could happen but most of them could also have further consequences for your teeth. Cracked teeth, eroded enamel etc can lead to your teeth being sensitive and painful, which is bad enough in itself. The compromised enamel though may also lead to more extensive problems such as tooth decay or root canal infections.
If you notice that your teeth are sensitive, don’t just try to mask it with painkillers or desensitising toothpastes, but get it checked by us first. In cases like this, early treatment, if required, could just save you from a lot more discomfort and possibly even tooth loss.
The ‘hibernation’ factor
In ancient times, the colder weather would have been a time to hibernate as much as possible. Some activities such as hunting etc would have taken place in order to eat, but other than that, most energy was probably spent staying warm and sheltered as much as possible. While things have changed and we can now be comfortably warm indoors and also reasonably warm when outside with better protective clothing, we do seem to still inherit the legacy of our ancestors. A quick look outside at the cold and wet is probably going to encourage most of us to stay indoors where it is warm. Some go even further and relish the opportunity, making sure there are plenty of (often high sugar) snacks and drinks available while we snuggle under blankets in front of the TV!
There is nothing wrong with this, but aside from the amount of additional sugars we might consume, there can be a tendency to become a bit ‘sluggish’ and lazy, perhaps skipping tasks that we normally do, or at least putting them off until tomorrow. If you do this, make sure that flossing and bruising your teeth twice a day is not one of the tasks you put off or avoid altogether. These are important any time of the year, no matter how tired you might be feeling.
Finally, even if the weather is cold and wet on the day of your dental check up appointment with us, remember that these are still important, even if you think there are no problems with your teeth and gums. The point of routine checks is to inspect for any issues before you might actually feel them, so that action can be taken in the most minimal way possible.
If you would like to contact us for any tooth or gum related reason or to book an appointment at the Cygnet Dental Practice, please call our reception team on 01268 733078.