Winter is coming to Worcester and the team at Auburn Dental Group is getting ready to battle the ice and snow yet again. Winter can be a dangerous time for teeth as they can be one slippery icy pavement away from a visit to the dentist. But breaking teeth while slipping on ice is not the only reason winter may end up causing a visit to the dental office.
Here are fours ways the cold Worcester winter could cause a trip to the dentist:
Slipping on ice and breaking a tooth – At Auburn Dental Group we make sure to clear the ice for the safety of our patients, but you will probably come across a patch of slippery ice somewhere in Worcester at some point during the winter. If you do fall and break a tooth there are a few types of tooth injuries you should be aware of, regardless though you should seek dental care immediately.
One form of tooth breakage is avulsion, when the tooth is completely ripped out of its socket. When this happens make sure not to pick up the tooth by the root and place it in a container filled with whole milk, saline solution, or saliva. With luck, the tooth can be placed back where it belongs.
Another type of injury that could happen is called luxation. In this case the tooth becomes loose in the socket instead of falling out completely. For this injury, make sure to hold the tooth in place until and see the dentist as soon as possible for an emergency dental appointment.
The final form of dental injury one may get from slipping and falling on ice is a fracture. For a fracture of the tooth, make sure to follow the same guidelines as mentioned with avulsion.
- Tooth pain from sinus pressure – Winter is the season of cold, flu, and sinus pressure. When people suffer from congestion they sometimes report feeling pressure on their teeth as well. It’s easy to mistake this discomfort for a dental issue and seek dental help for it.
- Tooth sensitivity when coming indoors from the cold – Many people are familiar with tooth sensitivity from drinking really hot or cold beverages but some people might even feel tooth sensitivity when coming indoors after being out in the cold Worcester winter air. In order to prevent this sensitivity it’s best to visit a dentist to talk about which options are available.
- Increased consumption of warm staining beverages – As the ice clears and people start thinking about trips to the beach they may start noticing that all those warm cups of coffee, tea, and mulled wine that they enjoyed in the winter have stained their teeth. There are some over-the-counter solutions for teeth whitening but it’s always wise to talk to your dentist before doing anything to your teeth. Alternatively, if you want to ensure the whitening is done evenly, safely, and professionally you could find a dentist that offers in-office teeth whitening.
At Auburn Dental Group we hope the only circumstance under which you have to visit this winter is for your regular cleaning, but if you slip on ice and require dental care call the office right away.