Winter is a very busy time for us all. Holidays, shopping, trips out of town, keeping the kids occupied indoors! Winter is also a busy time for pediatric dentists working to help youngsters healthy with good preventative dental care.

Why people have more dental health issues in the winter

It’s cold!  Cold weather can increase tooth sensitivity.  People also clench their jaws when it’s cold, a natural response the body does to keep warm. This jaw clenching can also cause tooth pain. 

The winter holidays also mean the part of the year with the worst food intake for teeth.  We drink spicy or creamy soups, lots of coffee (often with sugar or cream added), or hot cocoa to keep warm, and kids go to town with Halloween and Christmas treats. All this spells trouble for teeth. The acid from spices, dairy, and sweet/acidic treats like chocolate and coffee can damage or weaken tooth enamel. 

What can you do? 

Visit your dentist for solutions for tooth sensitivity. If there’s a root cause, like tooth decay, a cracked tooth, gum recession or perhaps damaged fillings your dentist can determine what’s wrong and coach you how to fix the issue. 

Rinse your mouth with a drink of water after enjoying soups or coffee. Tell your kids to also rinse their mouth with water. Limit the sweets to during (immediately after) mealtimes so you can monitor intake, and the saliva flow from chewing the healthier foods can help neutralize sugar/acids in the mouth. 

If you give your kids treats, consider candy that melts in the mouth rather than staying and sticking in there for long periods! 

The simplest and best thing we can do for our oral health is to brush and floss regularly and to and instill the habit in your kids. 

Book an appointment now to visit one of our pediatric dentists this winter. We’re here to help prevent any dental health issues and to help you fix any you may be having. 

About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates

Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options.  We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.

39400 Garfield Rd., Suite 200
Clinton Township, MI
48038
US
Phone: 586-286-0700
Fax: 586-286-5932