Why are My Teeth Sensitive in the Winter?

Do your teeth hurt more in the winter? Do you ever feel a twinge of pain when you sip a cup of freshly brewed coffee? If so, you may have sensitive teeth for a number of reasons. The most common being worn tooth enamel.

Once you wear away the protective outer layer of your teeth, you expose the dentin beneath. That’s why it’s important to see our dentists at least every 6 months for a teeth cleaning and oral examination so they can check for these types of issues before they worsen.

How Long Does Tooth Sensitivity Last?

Most tooth sensitivity goes away on its own. However, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists if your teeth are sensitive for more than a day or two. Depending on your circumstances, tooth sensitivity could be a sign of a larger problem that needs to be addressed by our dentists.

You may have sensitive teeth due to:

Don’t Ignore Tooth Pain and Sensitivity

It’s not uncommon for more patients to report tooth sensitivity during the winter months. However, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore tooth pain. Pain is your body’s way of telling you when something is wrong.

If you experience tooth sensitivity that lasts for more than a couple of days, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists as soon as possible. The longer you put off getting seen by a dentist, the more time you potentially give gum disease and cavities to worsen.

Understand the Source of Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity could be a sign of a larger problem. For example, one of the first symptoms of gum disease is sensitive teeth due to receding gums. Thankfully, gingivitis can usually be reversed with a professional teeth cleaning and educating the patient about the proper way to brush and floss teeth. The same can’t be said of periodontitis, which is an advanced gum disease.

Sensitivity can also be caused by a cracked tooth or cavity. If you eat a lot of sugary foods, your teeth may feel “fuzzy” or “rough” from all the plaque on your teeth. If left untreated, we may need to restore the tooth with a dental filling.

The sooner you schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, the sooner you can discover what’s causing your tooth sensitivity. While our dentists may just recommend a few changes to your oral hygiene routine, they could just as easily need to drill out tooth decay and place a filling.

Don’t Wait to Schedule an Appointment

To maintain a beautiful healthy smile, you’ll want to call our office as soon as you notice tooth sensitivity to cold. Dental pain or discomfort should never be ignored, especially when a simple change may be all that’s needed to treat sensitive teeth. For example, many patients have sensitive teeth after eating too many sweets, which increases the amount of plaque on their teeth.

Having your teeth cleaned by a professional can remove dental plaque so you don’t continue to experience tooth sensitivity. If the problem is more serious, our dentists will be able to detect the signs of gum disease or tooth decay so you can get treatment as soon as possible.

Call Frank P. Ruffino DDS

Don’t ignore sensitive teeth! Our emergency dentists in Shelby Township, MI can help you find the root cause of your tooth sensitivity. Request an appointment with Frank P. Ruffino DDS or our other dentists at (586) 799-4240.