Dental Advice for the Sweet Tooth

Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.

Why Cold Air Hurts Your Teeth and What to Do About It

Dentist Blog

Do your teeth hurt whenever you step outside on a cold morning? Does breathing in cold air leave you wincing in pain? Then you likely have a dental issue that needs urgent treatment. Though the pain itself is irritating, you should be more worried about the implications of the pain for your future dental health.

Tooth sensitivity when breathing in cold air is a sign of something more serious.

You Could Have Gum Recession

Gum recession is a condition by which the gum tissue covering the roots of your teeth recedes. Gum tissue usually recedes due to trauma, such as an accidental scratch, or gum disease. Examine your gum tissue in the area where the sensitivity pain is strongest. Have any of the gums pulled away from the teeth? Does the gum tissue look uneven? Then the sensitivity is due to gum recession.

If gum recession is the cause of your sensitivity, then you need to identify the cause. If gum disease is the cause, you should see swollen and red gum tissue in the area as well. You may also notice a buildup of tartar, a hard, yellow material that irritates gums and causes gum disease. If gum disease is to blame, you need to see a dentist to remove the tartar, the source of the infection.

When trauma is to blame, you might need a gum graft. During this procedure, the dentist removes some of your healthy oral tissue from the roof of your mouth and then uses that tissue to cover the exposed root of your tooth. This is important because gum tissue protects the vulnerable roots of your teeth from tooth decay and dental erosion.

Your Enamel May Have Eroded

Enamel erosion occurs when you include acidic foods and drinks in your diet. This means you may often enjoy soft drinks that contain ascorbic acid, such as cola, and acidic foods like red pasta sauce and citrus fruits like lemons and limes. Over time, the acid in these foods and drinks dissolves the enamel layer on your teeth, while, lowering the pH of your saliva, essentially raising its acidity.

If enamel erosion is to blame for your sensitivity, you should see a small, white area on the affected teeth. These areas are the parts of your teeth that have suffered the worst of the erosion. To treat enamel erosion, your dentist will need to fill the areas of erosion with composite bonding, a tooth-coloured material, especially if the affected teeth are in the smile zone.

However, for your back teeth, you could opt for amalgam fillings, which are stronger but not as attractive.

For more information, contact a dentist.

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19 November 2019