Summer brings a predictable trend to the dental practice. Cold drinks, ice cream, barbecue foods and hot weather all combine to place new demands on patients’ teeth each year. Undiagnosed caries, hypersensitivity, failing restorations, or cracked tooth syndrome: all of these and more tend to turn from manageable background noise into a problem that can no longer be ignored.
Understanding the mechanisms behind this trend of seasonal dental pain, and having a clear and practical conversation with patients about managing it, is a good opportunity to support patient wellbeing in the time between pain onset and treatment.
Cold and dentinal hypersensitivity
Dentinal hypersensitivity is one of the most common presentations associated with temperature triggers. It affects an estimated one in three adults at some point in their lives,[i] and cold stimuli are among the most common. When dentinal tubules are exposed – through gingival recession, enamel erosion or toothbrush abrasion – thermal stimuli cause fluid movement within the tubules, activating the hydrodynamic mechanism and triggering a sharp pain response.
Summer is a time for amplifying this. Frozen treats, ice-cold drinks – not to mention the temperature contrast of hot weather and cool foods, which can make the shock of the cold even more jarring than it would be the rest of the year. Patients who have been managing borderline sensitivity with little difficulty may find that their pain threshold is exceeded during these months.
The response here is twofold: to investigate the underlying cause of exposure and hypersensitivity, and to provide practical guidance on managing discomfort while treatment is planned or awaited.
Acid erosion in a summer diet
The British summertime diet comes with a significant increase in acidic food and drinks.[ii] Carbonated drinks, fruit juices, ciders, prosecco, vinegar-rich salad dressings and citrus fruits, as well as many more, all present an increased acidic load to the enamel. For those already presenting with erosion and tooth wear, a summer filled with acidic exposure can accelerate an already progressing process.[iii]
This means that the summer is a perfect time to revisit dietary advice with at-risk patients, particularly those with existing erosion or a history of reflux. It’s important to remember that those arriving in pain after a summer event are likely experiencing the accumulation of months of erosion.
Heat and sweets
It’s not only the cold and the acid content of common summer snacks – it’s also the sugar content that presents significant cariogenic challenges for patients with existing risk. An asymptomatic cavity, for example, may become symptomatic after being repeatedly doused in cold, sugary treats over the course of a summer weekend.
This is when careful history-taking, and discussions about triggers and duration, will help to distinguish between reversible and irreversible pulpitis and help to inform the subsequent course of treatment. If pain generally fades when the stimulus is removed, this is broadly more reassuring than if it continues for several minutes.[iv]
The gap between pain and treatment
Whatever the cause, the reality is that there is almost always a gap between the onset of pain and the completion of treatment. Appointments take time to arrange, and the commitments of the summer period can even extend this gap further than usual. In the meantime, it’s crucial to be able to offer patients relief and advice on managing their discomfort during this time.
Orajel® provides fast, targeted dental pain relief through a range of benzocaine-based topical gels applied directly to the source of pain.[v] Orajel® Dental Gel contains 10% w/w benzocaine for everyday dental pain,[vi] while Orajel® Extra Strength contains 20% w/w benzocaine[vii] – the maximum concentration available without prescription – for patients experiencing more severe or acute symptoms. Orajel® Mouth Gel offers the same targeted approach for patients with mouth ulcer pain or denture-related discomfort.vi All products can be applied up to four times daily for no longer than four days,vi providing consistent, localised relief while patients await their appointments.
Summer doesn’t need to mean the acceleration of symptoms and the onset of dental pain. Instead, it should present an opportunity to ensure patients are equipped with the right dietary and preventative knowledge to keep their teeth healthy during any periods of indulgence. And it’s a good time to have recommendations for dental discomfort in the back pocket. Preventing, keeping on top of, and managing discomfort can ensure that summer remains a time of fun and relaxation, not pain and stress, for your patients.
For essential information, and to see the full range of Orajel products, please visit https://www.orajelhcp.co.uk/
Author: Sumera Bashir Medical Affairs & Scientific Engagement Lead
[i] Evans S. Dentine hypersensitivity – a transient condition with genuine life impacts – Dentistry.co.uk. Dentistry.co.uk. Published June 7, 2019. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://dentistry.co.uk/2019/06/07/dentine-hypersensitivity-transient-condition-genuine-life-impacts/
[ii] Rising temperatures could sweeten – or sour – the future of food & drink – Food and Drink Technology. Food and Drink Technology. Published 2025. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://www.foodanddrinktechnology.com/blog/61684/rising-temperatures-could-sweeten-or-sour-the-future-of-food-drink/
[iii] Acidic foods and drinks: what you need to know. Oral Health Foundation. Published February 14, 2025. https://www.dentalhealth.org/acidic-foods-and-drinks-what-you-need-to-know
[iv] Edwards D, Allison JR, Coulter J, Durham J, Beecroft EV. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and other orofacial pain: overcoming challenges in diagnosis and management. Br Dent J. 2025;238(7):517-526. doi:10.1038/s41415-025-8441-9
[v] Hersh, EV, et al. An evaluation of 10 percent and 20 percent benzocaine gels in patients with acute toothache. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013;144(5):517–526.
[vi] Orajel Dental Gel. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1230/smpc
[vii] Orajel Extra Strength. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1231/smpc
