18 Jan Protecting Your Teeth and Mouth from the Cold
The last place we cover on our bodies to protect us from the cold is usually our mouths—yet the lips are delicate and the teeth can be prone to sensitivity. Avoid teeth pain and chapped lips with these tips:
1) Keep your lips hydrated with quality lip balm
If you’re feeling any discomfort or dryness in your lips, apply a lip balm that feels good for you, preferably one with SPF coverage. There are many rankings of lip balms out there if you’d like to read more, and your choices come at all price points (some with a bit of color too!).
2) Address Tooth Sensitivity
Although sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures occurs throughout the year, the biting winds of winter don’t help things. If you’re experiencing pain when the cold air hits, check with your dentist to address any problems with your enamel, gums, or other dental concerns.
Make sure your dental hygiene at home stays top notch by brushing after meals, flossing, and using a mouthwash. We’d also recommend tooth-friendly foods that can benefit your teeth . If sensitivity pain persists, your dentist may recommend a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth.
3) Cover up!
If you’re planning a winter outing like skiing, snowshoeing, or just hiking through the snow, protect your mouth as you would other sensitive parts of your body. It can be as simple as wrapping a soft scarf around your chin and mouth before you head out.
Licking lips that feel dry will only make matters worse. Think of the small children who lick their lips throughout the day only to return from school with red, chapped clown-mouths. Saliva can be irritating to the skin on your lips and ends up drying them out more. Apply a lip balm, and steer clear.
5) Drink more water
So much of the dryness we feel during the winter can be addressed by drinking plenty of water and humidifying our homes. If your skin on your lips, hands, or anywhere else is feeling dry, be sure to fight off the dryness of the air by drinking more water than you’d expect. Make yourself some tea and you’ll be warmed up, too!
Need a dental Appointment? Request an appointment online and a friendly member of the Medical Arts Dental Staff will be in touch with you shortly.