‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’

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3. ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’

The days are getting shorter, the evenings are getting cooler and your fingers and toes aren’t the only things being affected by the cold. Harsh weather during winter can wreak havoc on your lips and mouth. With a bit of tender loving care you can ensure that your mouth stays healthy through winter and into spring.

Watch out for these common cold weather complaints:

Chapped Lips:

Ask anyone during winter and they’ll say that having chapped lips is one of the things that they dislike most about winter. Exposure to the wind, cold, sun and constantly air-conditioned offices create the perfect environment for dry lips… and you don’t need to be a skier either. The skin on and around your lips is very delicate so it is important that you keep it protected. Try wearing a lip balm that contains SPF 15 or higher and apply it throughout the day, this will help to lock the moisture into your skin and fight off that chapped feeling.
You can also help stave off dry, cracked lips by drinking plenty of water, which will help to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Cold Sores:

Spending lots of time in harsh winter sun and wind can make you more prone to cold sores and can exacerbate any that you might have.
When battling cold sores one of the best tips we can give to you is, to make sure that the skin around your mouth is protected and remains healthy. Using a lip balm with SPF 15 or higher can help make sure that your lips stay hydrated.
Stress is also another known cause of oral breakouts. Make sure that you try to keep your stress levels down by sitting down with a book and a cup of tea – or whatever helps you relax, getting enough sleep and exercise. Doing this can help reduce the blemishes over time.

Tooth Sensitivity:

That surge of pain that you experience when drinking cold beverages might seem to be more so during winter. Wind and cold temperatures can leave your teeth feeling sensitive even when you take special care to avoid foods that might intensify the sensitivity. Most of us can’t avoid the cold weather, so brushing with a desensitizing toothpaste as well as avoiding acidic foods can help with the sensitivity during winter.
Sensitive toothpastes use ingredients that help to protect your teeth from extreme temperatures so that you can enjoy cold beverages and going for that run early in the morning.

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