What is meant by winter tooth pain? Do your teeth hurt when the weather outside turns chill or having cold drinks? Such winter tooth pain arises because your teeth have become sensitive, exposing the soft layers, triggering intense pain. Such toothaches provoked by temperature variations are rooted in many factors like tooth decay, newly placed fillings, etc. Meanwhile, dentists reveal that the teeth sensitive to cold happen with the teeth structure compromised by constant wear and tear. On the other hand, it might occur due to gum recession which is a sign of periodontal (gum) diseases.
Why does cold weather hurt your teeth? Our teeth expand and contract in response to heat and cold. As time passes by, the temperature swing leads to cracks in the teeth's white-colored top layer. Such tiny cracks seep down to the underneath layer called "dentin" and microscopic tubes. The dentin layer's upper portion is covered with enamel whereas the bottom is encapsulated with gums. It means whether you have a problem in enamel or gums, it badly affects the dentin and puts you at risk of cold weather pain. The fact is, toothaches due to temperature variations happen irrespective of how well you take care of your teeth. In contrast, you will end up developing serious dental disorders that aggravate seasonally sensitive teeth if you do not practice good oral hygiene.