Why do teeth hurt in the cold?
Breathing in fresh winter air through your open mouth or drinking an ice-cold soft drink in summer – sometimes these lovely things can become rather unpleasant. That is, for people with hypersensitive teeth that react particularly strongly to cold. It’s easy to assume that your braces might be to blame. But why do teeth hurt so much in the cold, and what can you do about it?
Why teeth are sensitive to cold
A sharp, sudden shooting pain when you bite into an ice cream. Many adults suffer from this unpleasant symptom. In severe cases, even brushing your teeth can trigger the pain. The most common causes of teeth being sensitive to cold can be summed up quickly:
- exposed tooth necks (the transition from tooth to gum) are often the reason – the dentine there is exposed, and it is sensitive to pain.
- a recent tooth whitening (bleaching) treatment
- too many acidic foods
- injury to or disease of the gums
- careless, horizontal tooth brushing
Risks of teeth that are sensitive to cold
If, for example, tooth whitening or a new filling is the reason for temporary sensitivity to cold, you don’t need to worry any further once the symptoms have disappeared. Unfortunately, this kind of hypersensitivity can also quickly become chronic and should then be checked by your dentist.
What can you do about sensitive teeth?
If it isn’t a chronic form, there’s quite a lot you can do yourself to make sure the pain soon becomes a thing of the past.
- Avoid acidic foods:
Lemons, sour apples, wine or fizzy drinks may taste delicious, but consumed in excess they can attack your teeth and make them more sensitive. Avoid acidic foods and drinks as far as possible, or brush your teeth about 20 minutes after eating or drinking them.
- Gentle dental care:
Always avoid whitening toothpaste, as fine abrasive particles can damage tooth enamel. Brush with a soft (ideally electric) toothbrush. Use “sensitive” toothpastes that contain stannous fluoride, hydroxyapatite or calcium salts.
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