Cold weather and dental issues

When the weather changes, new health challenges arise and the oral cavity or mouth is no exception. Starting with the lips to the gums, oral health may get stressed due to cold weather.

- Dr. Sunil S Chiplunkar

Cold weather in South India refers to a temperature range from 12 degree Celsius to 24 degree Celsius, where as in North India the thermometer plummets to 0 degree Celsius. In places like Ladakh, cold weather reaches – 40 degree Celsius.

Dental and oral issues

When cold weather hits the lips, the lack of moisture in the cold air causes dryness of lips. This leads to chapped or dry, flaky and cracked lips. Sometimes, the dry lips are friable and may bleed. Overall, the suffering lips due to cold weather become red, there is itching, discomfort or when severe, the cracks may bleed. The first approach of lip protection is covering the face including the mouth and nose when exposed to cold weather. Interestingly to help reduce cold weather discomfort of lips, people have a tendency to lick, but saliva dries out lips further, so one should avoid this licking habit. Use of lip balms to help hydrate and retain moisture is recommended that they help in safeguarding lip health. Drinking adequate water to hydrate is also required, though one may not feel very thirsty in cold weather.