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How Weather Elements May Affect Dental Pain

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Many people with dental problems will agree that changing weather patterns aren't their friends. Weather can make even a seemingly dormant toothache flare out of the blue. Have you ever wondered why this happens? Here is a scientific explanation why different weather elements can affect your dental pain:

Extreme Temperatures

Both high and low temperatures can increase your dental pain. This usually happens if you have imperfections on your teeth that the cold or hot air can affect. Such imperfections include microscopic fractures on your teeth's enamel, dental cavities, and weakened enamel. Anything that allows cold or hot air to reach the dentin, the nerve-filled inner part of the teeth, causes teeth sensitivity.

A good solution is to keep your mouth closed and breathe through your nose. Using toothpaste meant for sensitive teeth or fluoride mouthwash may also help. For a more permanent solution, get dental fillings, which forms a protective barrier on your teeth and prevents the cold or heat from reaching the dentin.

Air Pressure

Apart from extreme temperatures, changes in air pressure may also lead to a flare up of dental pain. This usually happens if you have air pockets, such as those caused by defective fillings, in your teeth. It may also happen if a common cold inflames your sinuses and fills them with fluids (such as mucous). A reduction of external air pressure (pressure outside your body) causes the fluids/air in the sinuses to expand as they try to equalize with the external pressure. This causes pressure on your oral tissues, which worsens any (negligible) pain you may have had prior to the pressure drop.

Treatment depends on what is causing the pockets of air or fluids in your teeth. For example, if an allergy is filling your sinuses with fluids, then treating your allergy will help with the dental pain too.

Humidity

Lastly, even low humidity may also be to blame for some of your dental problems. When the air is dry, your mouth may also become dry (especially if you aren't drinking enough water), which is uncomfortable. A dry mouth may also lead to fungal infections (for example thrush, bad breathe, and increased tooth decay. Drinking lots of water and using a humidifier in the home may help.

All these weather-related dental problems do not usually start out of the blue. In many cases, a change in weather only intensifies an existing problem. Therefore, it's advisable to consult a dentist to diagnose and treat the root of the problem.

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