How to keep teeth healthy in winter and holidays: the role of nutrition, dentist advice

Winter is the traditional time of «winter» diseases, when viruses and bacteria are activated. For dental health, this is fraught with stomatitis, inflammation of the gums, and we should not forget about injuries. In winter, especially on the eve of the New Year holidays, the number of visits to the dentist for various diseases and unpleasant symptoms increases. What matters is the weather, diet and abundance on the New Year’s tables, as well as a measured festive lifestyle. MedAboutMe will tell you about how to keep healthy in winter and on New Year’s holidays.

Winter Dental Health Risks

To many patients, the dentist at the reception said: hot coffee mixed with ice cream is delicious, but dangerous. First of all, the fact that microcracks in the enamel are formed in this way and, as a result, increased sensitivity of the teeth is an acute pain reaction when exposed to cold.

Sudden changes in temperature, when the patient leaves a warm room and into the cold winter air, have almost the same effect as coffee with ice cream, if mouth breathing predominates. Pathogenic bacteria on damaged and deprived of the integrity of the enamel is easier to provoke caries.

Dentists note that past infections, exacerbation of chronic diseases manifest themselves in the oral cavity and create risks for dental health. Today, doctors know what symptoms this or that disease manifests itself in and how it changes the functioning of the oral cavity as a single system. For example, for diseases of the gallbladder, a multiple form of caries is characteristic, and for gastritis with high acidity, persistent inflammation of the gums. Often exacerbation of chronic diseases occurs in winter due to dietary habits, lifestyle and weather conditions.

Even infections can affect the functioning of the oral cavity. Many of them cause stomatitis, inflammation of the gums, and the presence of chronic diseases only worsens the course of diseases and provokes complications.

It may seem that tooth decay and other oral diseases are inevitable in winter. But it’s not. Of course, the risks are higher, but this only means that patients must take special measures to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. This applies not only to the features of care, but also nutrition, as well as the prevention of injuries.

Features of nutrition in winter

Nutrition can act as a factor of defense and / or aggression. The inclusion of certain foods in the diet helps to improve the health of teeth and gums, while others, on the contrary, only increase the risk of caries and other complications.

Nutrition in winter and summer is significantly different, even according to the wishes of the patient himself. In summer, you want vegetables, fruits, light meals, and in winter — more solid, fatty and «warming». This is where the risks are.

The proportion of fresh vegetables and fruits is significantly reduced, and even those are mainly represented by citrus fruits, the excess of which is a predisposing factor and even the cause of acidic enamel damage — erosion and, in difficult cases, necrosis. Under the influence of predisposing factors, for example, occupational hazards, such risks only increase.

During the weekly period of holidays, the percentage of consumption of sweets increases significantly, the table is literally bursting with sweets of various stripes. For many, viewing New Year’s fairy tales is accompanied by a cheerful eating of tangerines and cakes, cookies and chocolate.

Of course, it is difficult to give up sweets, especially if they are in excess and “irritate the eyes”, but in order to prevent consequences for the health of teeth and gums, it is necessary to take preventive measures and especially carefully monitor the condition of the oral cavity and hygiene.

Some dentists note that in winter you need to use «special» toothpastes that belong to the class of therapeutic and prophylactic and contain active minerals: calcium, phosphorus, fluorine.

Dentist advice

The negative impact on the teeth during the New Year holidays and in winter is inevitable. At risk are patients with diseases of internal organs, for example, pathologies of the digestive tract, endocrine system, etc.

Dentists advise such patients to improve oral hygiene, visit doctors before the onset of cold weather and carry out a set of preventive procedures:

• Professional hygiene

Removal of tartar, plaque, polishing of teeth and fillings, saturation of enamel with minerals in order to strengthen it and increase resistance to negative manifestations.

• The course of remineralizing therapy

The dentist saturates the enamel with minerals: calcium and phosphorus, and then, to fix the result, with fluorine. This active ingredient creates strong bonds in the crystal lattice, therefore, the enamel becomes stronger and more stable. By the way, this is one of the best options for treating and preventing tooth sensitivity.

• Selection of individual hygiene products and items, training in brushing teeth

Patients should remember that toothpaste is a medicinal formula that can help treat and prevent numerous oral diseases, from caries to gum disease.

Red wine instead of champagne

What’s New Year’s Eve without champagne? Many have a tradition — to open a bottle of champagne to the chiming clock and always with a deafening bang. Dentists do not call for abandoning traditions, but recommend reducing the consumption of champagne during the New Year holidays and replacing it with high-quality red wine.

The fact is that champagne cannot be called useful for the oral cavity, it contributes to a persistent increase in the pH of the oral cavity to the acidic side, when the bacteria that cause caries and inflammation of the gums can actively multiply.

Another thing is red wine. In the course of research, it was possible to prove that the substances contained in wine and grape seed extract can inhibit the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microflora, which can be considered as the prevention of caries and gum disease. But we are talking about quality wine.

The study notes that red wine (within reason) can be considered a safe and somewhat beneficial alcoholic beverage for dental health compared to others. But this does not mean that it should be consumed in liters. We should also not forget about the coloring properties of red wine.

Winter creates increased risks for the development of certain diseases of the teeth and gums, but this does not mean that they are mandatory and inevitable. By following the rules of personal hygiene, including healthy foods in the diet and visiting the dentist regularly, you can maintain healthy teeth and gums.

PS And do not lick the metal in the cold!