It’s a well-known fact that freezing temperatures can cause a lot of problems for your skin. However, freezing temperatures can also wreak havoc on your teeth, as the chances of developing dental problems in the winter are drastically increased.
Ask any dentist and he will tell you that you need to take extra care of your teeth during the winter months. Oral health is essential, and we’re going to tell you how to do it.
1. Brush Softly
Winter months can be particularly devastating for those with sensitive teeth. The cold makes your teeth even more sensitive, and quick temperature changes can cause you pain. So because of this, a good tip, for those with sensitive teeth, would be to change their brushing style and take a more soft approach. Your gums will be most affected by the winter, so you need to brush more gently around them. Another thing you can do is get toothpaste that is recommended for sensitive teeth.
2. Drink Lots of Fluids
Staying hydrated during the winter months is not only advised but beneficial for your oral health. Dehydration can mostly be noticed in the winter months after waking up. As homes start heating, the air gets dry pretty quick which leaves your mouth particularly dry when waking up. Maintaining fluid levels in your mouth helps reduce bacteria from ever developing. So a good tip would be to always drink plenty of fluids before waking up and always take a glass of water with you to bed.
3. Wear Mouth Guards
A rather unusual tip on winter oral hygiene, but we’ll mention it like it that focuses on a particular group of people. Namely, according to mygranddental.com, a mouth guard is very handy for those that play sports during the winter. The easiest way we can cause injuries to our teeth is when playing sports like football, basketball, hockey, etc. So a mouth guard for playing sports during the winter will not only secure your teeth, but it will also drastically decrease the chances of visiting the dentist.
4. Drink Less Hot Cocoa
Let’s face it; winters are not winters without a nice cup of hot cocoa with the family. But this might not be the smartest thing to do as cocoa contains chocolate, which is full of sugar. Sugar, on the other hand, is bad for us as it creates decay. We’re not saying you should entirely quit drinking hot cocoa, but simply limiting the intake can make a huge difference. If you still want to drink hot cocoa, there is a sugar-free version that you can always opt for. If your throat is sore and you need to drink something hot, why not go for tea and leave out the sugar?
5. Wash Your Hands Frequently
During the winter months, germs stick to the warmer things. Your hands tend to be warmer than most things outside, which cause germs to be attracted to them. However, germs can also travel, and they do with every handshake, everything we touch, etc. So a good tip for the winter periods would be to frequently wash your hands to keep the germs at bay.
