Cold water is an unlikely champion when tooth decay starts. For this reason, you may stay away from anything hot or cold when you have tooth pain. The level of sensitivity your teeth have to cold is an indicator of dental health. Sharp pain when cold comes in contact with a tooth might be a signal that it is time to see the dentist. Cold water rinses may help maintain clean teeth and serve to warn you of a problem.
Anatomy
There is a lot more going on with a tooth than you can see. When you look at your teeth in a mirror, all that is visible is a hard, white surface. This is the enamel coating that protects a rich network of nerves and sensitive layers underneath. Just below the enamel is a second, thin layer of connective tissue, or cementum, which helps to protect the inner sanctum of the tooth. Directly beneath the cementum is a softer tissue section known as dentin that covers the nerve fibers like a cushion. Below the dentin is the root structure of the tooth. The American Dental Association refers to this space as the pulp chamber.
Dental Health
Tooth pain can come from a variety of sources, but is generally due to a breakdown in the layers that protect the pulp chamber. Cavities form when bacteria and debris buildup on the enamel surface and cause erosion. Risk factors associated with tooth decay include acidic foods, sugar, a defect in the enamel surface such as a chip, and reduced saliva flow. According to the website for Family Gentle Dental Care, poor oral hygiene leads to plaque buildup on teeth that traps bacteria and promotes gum disease. Other conditions that affect the health of your teeth include impaction, abnormal alignment, abscesses and inflammation of the pulp.
Sensitivity
Rinsing your mouth with cold water can alert you to sensitive areas and problems with your teeth. Tooth sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures may indicate decay, cracking in the enamel that exposes the dentine layer and erosion. The degree of the pain when cold hits a tooth can alert you to the seriousness of the condition. National Dental Centre Singapore reports sensitivity that lasts just a few seconds indicates dental decay. Pain that spans a longer period of time is more serious and requires immediate care to prevent or treat infection.
Benefits
Rinsing your mouth out with water, especially after eating sugary or acidic foods, may help dislodge food particles and debris trapped between teeth, and reduce damage to enamel. No significant benefit exists to using cold water, as opposed to room temperature or a lukewarm liquid. Cold water may enable you to locate problem areas in your mouth, such as a cavity, and a cold rinse may also indicate the extent of damage to a tooth. However, a tooth in poor health will be sensitive to cold drinks, such as soda, as well. There are many benefits to rinsing your mouth out regularly with water, but doing so may cause unnecessary pain, so see a dentist if you experience prolonged sensitivity.
Considerations
Maintaining proper oral care is essential to keeping your teeth and your gums disease-free. Brushing and flossing daily goes a long way to preventing decay. Ignoring tooth pain or sensitivity to cold only further damages the surface of the enamel. Once pain starts, this is an indicator of a problem. Seeing a dentist when you have pain, and for regular dental care, keeps your teeth healthy -- and in your mouth.
