Autumnal Habits That Are Bad For Your Teeth

Autumnal Habits That Are Bad For Your Teeth

With cold and wetter weather upon us, let’s take care that our oral health doesn’t suffer.

Summer may have seemed short and, most would agree, pretty disappointing too. Despite this though, most of you will still have noticed a drop in temperature along with darker nights and a feel of dampness in the air. There can be little doubt that Autumn has arrived.  While it may not all be bad, with some attractive sights such as trees changing colour, it also marks the start of a time when new threats to our teeth and oral health in general come into play.

In today’s blog, our Ipswich family dentists take a look at situations that can arise at this time of the year and discuss the steps you can take to make sure that your teeth and gums remain healthy at this time of the year.

Your teeth in cold weather

With the arrival of Autum, it won’t be long before we notice a real drop in temperatures which sees us reaching for hats and coats when we go out. One part of our body that is difficult to protect from the cold however, is our mouth. When the wind is cold and comes into contact with our teeth, some of us might notice some discomfort as they meet the cold air. This should not happen with healthy teeth and if you do experience this, please get your teeth checked by one of the team here at the Foxhall Dental Practice in Ipswich.

If you are experiencing discomfort like this, there may be damage to your teeth, possibly in the shape of a cracked tooth or alternatively, worn enamel of the teeth which no longer offer the protection that it should. There are a number of possible solutions to these problems including fillings and porcelain teeth veneers and our Ipswich dentist will be able to advise the best course of action to take.

‘Comfort’ eating and drinking

As the warmer weather vanishes, our diet tends to change. The healthier fruits and salads start to be replaced with heartier foods which help to keep us warm. Some of these are tooth friendly but not all. Perhaps the biggest risk to our teeth comes in the shape of sugary hot drinks, and with that, probably some cake too. This increase in sugar means that tooth decay is more likely to occur, especially if we don’t clean our teeth well.

While this change in diet is understandable, patients should take care of what they eat, keeping sugars moderated. It is also a good time to reassess your teeth and gum cleaning habits, perhaps buying a new toothbrush and taking up flossing between your teeth if you don’t already do so.

Dehydration

During the warmer summer months, we are used to the idea that we need to hydrate effectively due to moisture loss, often through sweating. While those who play sports will still notice this, the rest of us may not and may cut down on our water consumption.

This would be a mistake as, perhaps surprisingly, we still lose a lot of moisture, even in cold weather. The cold air contains less moisture and, as you will notice when your breath steams, we lose a lot when we breathe too. Loss of moisture can affect the respiratory system and perhaps this doesn’t help the effects of the seasonal viruses that are often around. From a dental perspective, dehydration causes a dry mouth and as our readers will know, this is a significant factor in the development of gum disease. Make sure to drink plenty of water however cold it gets.

Avoid appointment cancellations

The need to cancel a dental appointment can happen at any time of the year, but this can tend to happen more during the colder months. Occasionally, this is due to a patient not wanting to leave the house due to heavy rain or similar, but is also often the result of the viral infections that can be more common at this time of the year.

Cancellations are inevitable but we do urge you to keep them if you are well enough, even if that does mean braving the rain. Last minute cancellations are frustrating for us as, with sufficient notice, we would have been able to fill that slot with someone who may be in pain with a toothache or other painful problem. Please give us as much notice as you possibly can if you need to cancel.

The other thing to remember when you do cancel is to make sure to book a replacement appointment. Especially if you are feeling under the weather, it is all too easy to want to get off the phone as quickly as possible without doing this. Unfortunately, experience shows that a percentage of patients who don’t book replacement appointments may let things slip and a longer gap between appointments occurs, sometimes only being booked when a problem arises.

Your check up appointments are aimed at making sure that your teeth and gums are healthy and that if there are any minor issues, such as a small cavity, these are treated before they become more significant and potentially painful.

We hope that you find this blog useful and remember to ‘wrap up well’ as many of us will have heard our parents say. This is good advice as is following the guidance offered in  today’s blog. If you need any further advice about your teeth and gums or wish to make an appointment with us, please call the Foxhall Dental Practice today on 01473 258396.