What you need to know about dental health during the cold season
Health / / December 19, 2019
Marina Kolesnichenko
Dentist, chief doctor of dental clinic Beauty Line.
Autumn and winter - this is the usual time for the start of the epidemic of influenza, and all sorts of SARS and sinusitis often attack us precisely at the time of rain, snow and low temperatures. But how to react to it our teeth?
Lower temperatures lead to cracks in the enamel
Known fact: in-polar researchers who have been studying the Arctic and Antarctic, often from the cold teeth is not just cracked, and exploded directly in the mouth. The reason is the very low temperatures, which cause the destruction of tooth enamel.
Of course, the inhabitants of modern cities are not exposed to these extreme temperatures, but cold can really hurt your teeth. If you have a habit to leave the warm room outside to smoke, or you regularly eat at the same time very hot and very cold products (ice cream scalding tea wash down, for example) appear on the enamel cracks.
Also there is such a thing as an ache in the teeth because of the cold. It occurs when the teeth and gums are very sensitive: after you have long breathed cold air or talking on the street, you may see a toothache or pain in the gums.
Protect teeth from this in two ways. Firstly, to abandon a combination of hot and cold food, smoking on the street, try to talk as little as possible in the cold. Secondly, do not forget about warming: wear a scarf covering their cheeks, lift the collar outer wear, wear a jacket or coat with deep hoods.
Flu and colds can cause toothache
But the cold is dangerous not only an ache in the teeth. SARS and flu - frequent companions of winter and frost. These diseases also can cause toothache.
The fact is that any inflammatory processes primarily affect the body's immunity. During mass outbreaks it decreases viral diseases.
As a rule, if the toothache at the beginning of the disease, then they have some inflammation occurs. When the immune system is at the proper level, it stabilizes the process and inflammation in the teeth are not actively growing. An infection that is present in them in a healthy condition of the body controlled as macrophages (cells that capture and digest bacteria) Destroyed part pathogens.
But with lowered immunity due to influenza or ARVI body can not maintain the normal condition of the teeth. Lingering inflammatory processes are aggravated and the patient begins to match tooth unexpectedly. That is the problem existed before, but it was imperceptible.
In this case, you should not hesitate - you need to go to treat a tooth. If it hurts badly, it can be accompanied by fever, which only worsens the condition of the patient.
Bad teeth can lead to sinusitis
There are two types sinusitis: Resulting from the virus, as complications of SARS, and odentogenny, which develops due to dental problems.
The fact that the roots of chewing a segment of the upper jaw teeth are located on the border of the maxillary maxillary sinus. Sometimes the roots of the teeth even anatomically enter into it. And if there is inflammation in the roots, it also goes to his bosom, and it can develop sinusitis and pus appear.
Treatment of the sinusitis should be aimed at addressing the root causes - usually problematic teeth, because of which there was inflammation of the maxillary sinus, simply remove. Although it is sometimes possible to save them, but after the treatment.
Standard procedure: a doctor diagnoses, removes the damaged tissue of the tooth, rinse channels antiseptics and antibiotics prescribed by a pick-inflammatory and antiallergic drugs. Then, the cavity in the tooth is put a cotton swab, and after 2-3 days the patient again comes to washing with antiseptics channels, after which the doctor lays them medicine and puts temporary filling. If pus does not stand out more, and the patient feels no pain, the dentist is sealed channels and finally puts a permanent seal on the tooth itself. After this, sinusitis and also passes.
But if the teeth have been removed after healing from sinusitis have to think about installing dentures - implants or bridges. This can usually be done no sooner than three months, as the need to stabilize the local immunity in this area. It is necessary to completely passed inflammation, and only if the patient is ready for implantation.
The reverse situation, when the sinusitis begins to have a negative impact on the teeth is impossible: in the teeth there is a local immunity, which protects them from the harmful effects of the sinus infection.
Antibiotics do not harm teeth
Many patients refuse to take antibiotics due to the fear of side effects of these drugs. But antibiotics are harmless to teeth - they reduce inflammation as well as substances that kill microbes trapped in our bodies. Because the reception of antibiotics, prescribed by a physician for the treatment of colds and sinusitis, can not cause tooth pain, but rather, on the contrary, will soften it, especially if the spectrum of action of these antibiotics get the bacteria that cause tooth decay and pulpitis.
conclusions
- A sharp temperature drop can lead to cracks in the enamel, and subcooling - pain in the teeth.
To avoid this, you need to wear scarves and not to eat at the same time very cold and very hot. - Reduced immunity for colds and flu leads to a more pronounced manifestation of latent inflammation in the teeth, causing pain. In this case it is better not to postpone dental treatment.
- Inflammation roots of upper posterior teeth may cause sinusitis,
in that case the teeth must be treated or disposed of. - Treatment with antibiotics for the flu, SARS and sinus safe for teeth.
see also
- Exposing the 5 myths about wisdom teeth →
- 7 healthy habits for dental health →
- How to brush your teeth →