There’s no doubt about it – these are stressful times. Whether you’re dealing with keeping your family safe during the current pandemic, or just managing the day-to-day tensions of our normal lives, you should be aware that stress can have an impact on your overall health AND your oral health. As the old saying goes, “Knowledge is power,” so we’ve compiled this list of ways in which stress can affect your teeth and gums – so you are better equipped to maintain good oral health for yourself and your family during times of stress.

• Teeth grinding – If you’re worried about current events, your job, your personal relationships, or any other aspect of your life, that tension can cause you to grind your teeth. Many people experience this while they sleep without even realizing it. If you wake up still feeling tired or with a headache, overnight teeth grinding might be the cause.
• Mouth sores – If you’re prone to developing cold sores or canker sores – or sometimes even if you’re not – stress and anxiety can bring them on. In fact, stress is one of the main causes for mouth sores.
• Gum disease – Experiencing stress for an ongoing period of time can lower your immunity, and that can result in the health of your gums being compromised. If you don’t have gum disease, stress can make you more susceptible to developing it. If you already have gum disease, stress can make it worse.
• Dry mouth – Many of us have no doubt experienced dry mouth right before a job interview or some other stressful situation, so it should come as no surprise that dealing with a great deal of anxiety on a regular basis can result in chronic dry mouth. As it turns out, dry mouth is more than just an annoyance. In fact, it can increase your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

Now, for some good news: there are precautions you can take to reduce the effects of stress on your oral health and your overall health. If you’re experiencing ongoing, regular feelings of anxiety, it’s important to take care of yourself and maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing the following:

• Eat a healthy diet. Include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean protein. Avoid sugar as much as possible.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Be diligent about keeping up with your at-home oral hygiene routine every day.
• Find healthy ways to alleviate stress, such as yoga, meditation, or relaxation exercises.
• Avoid turning to alcohol or drugs. These substances will wreak havoc with your oral and overall health.

And, of course, whenever it’s possible be sure to see your dentist and healthcare provider on a regular basis. Stress is manageable, but you’ll need to work at it each and every day.

If you’re a parent, you already know that kids have some challenges to overcome when it comes to achieving and maintaining good oral health. Fortunately, most of these issues are completely treatable if caught in the early stages and treated by an experienced family dentist. Here are some of the most common dental challenges for kids, along with some solutions that can resolve these issues:

• Cavities – With very few rare exceptions, it’s just a simple fact of life: kids get cavities. While some are more prone to develop tooth decay than others, there’s another reason why kids get cavities, and that is because they’re just not as experienced as adults at properly caring for their teeth and gums. That, combined with a diet that is rich in carbohydrates – including fruit juice, potatoes, pasta, cookies, and all the other foods that kids love – add up to a much greater risk of developing tooth decay. Fortunately, regular trips to the dentist for professional cleanings and exams, along with an occasional dental filling when needed, usually allows parents and dentists to stay on top of this all-too-common dental issue.
• Thumb-sucking – Most kids suck their thumbs at some point. In fact, this is instinctive for children and often begins in the womb before birth. Usually, this habit disappears after the age of two or three. But if your little one is still engaging in thumb-sucking after the age of 4 or 5, it can have a negative impact on his or her oral health, sometimes affecting the roof of the mouth and tooth alignment. Fortunately, a good family dentist can provide some tips on how to help your child kick the habit.
• Teeth grinding – It’s common for kids to grind their teeth (also referred to as “bruxism”). Sometimes it’s a response to some type of pain they’re experiencing, such as the discomfort of an ear infection or teething, for example. Other times, grinding is the result of the misalignment of the top and bottom teeth. Whatever the cause may be, your dentist can provide a solution. If your child doesn’t grow out of the habit – which most kids do – your dentist might recommend that the child wear a mouth guard while sleeping. This will prevent damage to the teeth that grinding can cause.
• Sensitive teeth – Kids often suffer from sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks. The enamel layer on children’s teeth is much thinner than adult teeth, and that makes it more likely to become damaged. Your dentist may recommend a dental sealant to protect teeth and provide some welcome relief from sensitivity.

The majority of common dental problems for kids are easily treated. The most important thing to remember as a parent is to make sure your little ones are brushing and flossing each day, and to take them to the dentist on a regular basis for professional cleanings and oral exams.

If you’ve ever admired the beautiful smiles of celebrities and wonder how they were so fortunate to have such perfect-looking teeth, we have a secret to share with you: the vast majority of those perfect-looking smiles weren’t so perfect to begin with. In fact, many celebrities have undergone a cosmetic dental procedure to have porcelain veneers applied to their natural teeth. And that’s where those beautiful smiles come from! Now, for the best news of all: you can have a perfect smile too, all thanks to porcelain veneers. Just consider all celebrities that have benefited from this remarkable, fast and easy dental procedure:

• George Clooney – If you look at some of the earlier photos of this famous heartthrob, you may notice a distinct difference in his smile. Just look back at photos from his “Fact of Life” TV series, and you’ll see what we mean. But shortly after that series ended, Clooney invested in porcelain veneers, and the difference was obvious!
• Tom Cruise – Another famous leading man who has benefited from veneers is Tom Cruise. That picture-perfect smile wasn’t always that way. In fact, in his early years in Hollywood, Cruise had some dental issues that were all too obvious every time he smiled. But those days are long gone. For the past several years, Cruise has flashed a beautiful smile to photographers and the movie cameras alike – all thanks to porcelain veneers.
• Catherine Zeta Jones – One of the most gorgeous faces in Hollywood didn’t always have the most gorgeous smile. In fact, Zeta Jones had crooked teeth as a young person and even wore braces to correct that issue. But even that wasn’t enough to create the perfect teeth that she enjoys now, with porcelain veneers.
• Demi Moore – This popular star might be getting older, but you’d never know it from her appearance, or from her magnificent smile. In fact, Moore’s smile – thanks, once again, to porcelain veneers – helps her to maintain her youthful appearance.

As it turns out, movie star smiles aren’t just for movie stars. In fact, anyone can enjoy all the benefits of having a beautiful, picture-perfect smile. All it takes is a few cosmetic dental procedures. After your dentist ensures that you are in good oral health, a magnificent smile can be yours with the help of porcelain veneers. Contact your dentist today to find out more about this amazing dental technology and to schedule your appointment.

If you’re looking for an excellent way to improve the quality of your life, there’s no better place to start than with your smile! In fact, the benefits you’ll enjoy from having a more attractive smile go far beyond just your appearance alone. That’s why so many dentists now offer smile makeover services. A smile makeover is different for every patient. Put simply, a makeover is a combination of dental procedures created specifically for each person and designed to leave that individual with a beautiful smile and excellent oral health. Here are five reasons why you should invest in a smile makeover:

• You’ll feel better about yourself. Studies show that people with attractive smiles experience higher self-esteem and increased self-confidence! A bright new smile will make you feel more assured about your place in the world and give you more confidence when it comes to interacting with others.
• Others will see you in a more positive light. Those same studies show that not only will you feel better about yourself with a nicer smile; other people will see you in a more positive light. People with attractive smiles are even perceived to be kinder and more trustworthy than other people.
• You’ll be happier! Research proves that people who smile more often are actually happier than people who don’t. And nothing makes you want to smile more than having a brighter, more attractive smile to show off.
• Smiling is contagious. Not only will you be happier, but other people around you will smile in response to your smile, which means that they’ll be happier as well. The old saying that “a smile is contagious” is actually true! When people see someone else smiling, they automatically smile in return.
• You’ll experience better oral health. Your dentist will make sure that you’re in the best oral health possible as part of your smile makeover. So any dental problems you have – such as tooth decay or early-stage gum disease, for example – will be resolved before moving ahead with any cosmetic procedures.

With all the benefits of a more attractive smile, we can’t think of a better investment you could make to improve not only the quality of your life, but the quality of other people around you as well. Contact your dentist today for more information about smile makeovers. Your brand new smile – and all the benefits that go along with it – could be just a phone call away!

Dentures, in one form or another, have been around for centuries. After all, everybody needs their teeth. Without them, chewing food is impossible and speaking is a real challenge. So it makes sense that people have been creatively designing ways to replace missing teeth throughout history. Fortunately, modern dentures are much more advanced than those earlier designs. Today, dental patients can choose from a variety of styles in dentures – from full sets to partials, and even dental prosthetics that are permanently fitted into the patient’s mouth and secured by dental implants!

Whatever type or style of denture you choose, you’re sure to reap the benefits from these incredible dental appliances. Just consider all the ways in which your life will improve with dentures:

• You’ll smile more. That may not sound too life-changing, but it is! In fact, studies show that people who smile more are actually happier than those who don’t. And research shows that people with attractive smiles feel more self-confident and are seen in a much more positive light by others.
• You’ll enjoy eating whatever foods you’d like. Today’s dentures are, for the most part, snug and secure-fitting appliances. Your dentist can make sure of that. And that means you’ll be free to enjoy all your favorite foods.
• You’ll prevent bone loss. You may not realize it, but bone tissue needs to be stimulated in order to maintain healthy density. When you lose teeth, the health of your jawbone is compromised. Dentures help to provide the stimulation needed – by the act of chewing food, specifically – to keep your jawbone healthy and prevent bone loss.
• You’ll maintain a normal bite. We all have a natural bite – in other words, the position that your teeth are in when you close your mouth. When you’re missing teeth, even if it’s just a single tooth, your other teeth shift to fill in the gap left behind by the missing teeth. That can throw off your bite, which can result in excessive wear of some teeth, jaw pain, and even an increased risk of tooth decay.

There’s no doubt that modern dentures can make your life better in so many ways! From smiling more to enjoying your food and maintaining good oral health, today’s dentures can do it all. And you may be surprised to learn that there are many affordable options to choose from. To find out more about modern tooth-replacement options, contact your dentist today.

Given the choice between saving a tooth and having a tooth pulled, virtually all dentists and patients alike would prefer to save the tooth. But there are certain situations in which tooth extraction is the best option. What follows are some of the most common reasons why a tooth is pulled:

• Extensive decay – If you have a tooth that is severely decayed, your dentist may not be able to save the tooth by some other means, and you may have to have the tooth extracted. Now for the good news: it typically takes quite a long time for a tooth to develop this level of decay. In most instances (especially in first-world countries, where people have greater access to regular dental care), a decayed tooth can be saved by a filling, a crown, or a root canal. But if you’ve avoided going to the dentist for several years, or if you haven’t been able to go to the dentist due to circumstances that are beyond your control, you may have one or more severely decayed teeth that can’t be saved.
• Gum disease – Gingivitis (early stage gum disease) and periodontitis (late stage gum disease) are an all-too-common problem in adults inside the US. If you have gingivitis, the condition can usually be reversed with a deep cleaning, followed by a daily at-home oral hygiene regimen. But if you have periodontitis that has been left untreated for a long period of time, your teeth may become loose due to this advanced stage of gum disease. Once this happens, your dentist will have no choice other than to extract the teeth.
• Impacted teeth – If you have wisdom teeth that are currently in the process of erupting, you can very easily develop an impacted tooth. This condition occurs when a tooth doesn’t fully erupt through the gum line. Once this happens, the tooth may come in at an angle, may cause overcrowding of other teeth, or may become infected. Often, a dentist will recommend that an impacted tooth be removed to avoid these other problems from occurring.
• Overcrowded teeth – If a patient has too many teeth for the size of his/her mouth, the orthodontist may recommend extracting one or more teeth to allow for the remaining teeth to be repositioned into a better, more natural alignment.
• Broken teeth – If a patient breaks a tooth very near or at the gum line, the dentist may have no choice but to extract the tooth. This is because a certain amount of natural tooth needs to be available in order to restore the tooth or attach a crown. If an inadequate amount of tooth remains, the dentist won’t be able to use these other methods to restore it, and it will have to be pulled.

Tooth extraction may not sound appealing, but it’s a common procedure that isn’t nearly as daunting as it may sound. Contact your dentist for more information.

One of the most remarkable advancements in dental technology over the past few years are dental implants. Designed to either replace missing teeth or act as anchors for partial or complete sets of dentures, implants look exactly like natural teeth and they are extremely strong and durable – often lasting patients for an entire lifetime. An implant consists of a metal rod that is inserted into the jawbone of the patient. After a few months, the metal fuses with the bone tissue, creating in effect an artificial tooth root. At that point, the dentist affixes a porcelain crown to the top of the implant, and the patient is fully equipped with what is as close to a brand new natural tooth as modern science will allow.

While there’s no doubt that dental implants are excellent choices for most patients, they may not be right for everyone. A good candidate for an implant should have all of the following:

• Adequate bone tissue – If you don’t have sufficient bone mass in your jaw to accommodate the implant, you might not be a good candidate. There are ways around this issue, however. A dental surgeon may be able to rebuild your jawbone prior to receiving the implant, which is typically done by bone grafting.
• Healthy gums – If you have any form of gum disease, your dentist or oral surgeon will want to address that issue prior to performing the implant surgery. Fortunately, the early stage of gum disease (gingivitis) is relatively easy to treat. But if you have periodontitis (latter-stage gum disease), it might require additional treatment methods to resolve the issue before an implant procedure can be performed.
• Willingness to practice a daily oral hygiene routine at home – You’ll need to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy and strong. And you’ll need to visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Although most people are good candidates for dental implants, some patients are not. Those include children, pregnant women, heavy smokers, and people who abuse alcohol or drugs. People who have chronic diseases may need to have their current health carefully assessed before an oral surgeon or dentist is willing to perform an implant procedure.

For more information about dental implants, and to find out whether you are a good candidate, talk to your dentist.

Over the past few years, low carb diets have become increasingly popular in the US. Many people find that this method of eating allows them to maintain a healthy weight and still enjoy many of their favorite foods without the hassle of calorie counting. The Paleo diet, for example, is based on consuming lean meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables, while eliminating all grains and dairy products, as well as sugar and alcohol. Other well-known low carb diets include South Beach, Atkins, and the Keto diet. There is a tremendous amount of information available on how these ways of eating impact your overall health, but our focus here will be slightly different: we’re going to briefly examine how a low carb diet affects your oral health.

Advantages of a Low Carb Diet

Eliminating sugar from your diet is always a benefit as far as your oral health is concerned. Sugar literally feeds the bad bacteria that exists inside your mouth, and once that bacteria begins to grow, tooth decay and/or gum disease can develop. But it’s not only sugar that feeds that bacteria – other carbohydrates do as well, such as those found in many breads and grains. Most low carb diets also recommend that you stay away from alcohol and sodas, and instead drink plenty of water throughout the day. This is also a huge benefit to your teeth and gums. Alcohol and sodas are often high in sugar, and some are also highly acidic, both of which promote the growth of bad bacteria and contribute to the erosion of enamel.

Disadvantages of a Low Carb Diet

If you’re about to embark on a low carb diet that includes avoiding dairy products, you might not be getting enough calcium in your daily diet. As most of us know, calcium is essential for building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to ensure you get adequate calcium. Nut “milks” are one option. Most are enriched with impressive amounts of calcium, and some can even provide much more than you would get with regular dairy products. But other foods provide calcium as well, such as leafy vegetables, broccoli and almonds, for example.

If you’re starting the New Year with a low carb diet, just keep in mind the health of your teeth and gums. Remember to get enough calcium and, as always, practice a daily oral hygiene routine at home and visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Unfortunately, gum disease is an all-too-common problem for adults in the US and around the world. Just as is the case with other diseases, there are different stages of gum disease. The early stage, also known as gingivitis, is typically indicated by gum tissue that is swollen and red, and gums that bleed easily after brushing or eating hard food. The good news is that gingivitis can usually be reversed by professional cleaning in addition to a daily oral hygiene routine followed by the patient at home.

Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a more serious condition that requires more aggressive forms of treatment. Researchers believe that nearly half of the citizens in the US over the age of 30 have periodontitis. If this advanced form of gum disease isn’t treated quickly, it can lead to tooth loss. Even worse – latter-stage gum disease has been linked to more serious health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease. Fortunately, modern technology offers a variety of effective treatments for periodontitis:

• Scaling and root planing (SRP) – Also referred to as “deep cleaning,” this procedure involves removing plaque and tartar from just under the gum line, then smoothing the tooth surface to make it harder for bacteria to build up in the future.
• Antibiotics – Dentists and periodontists often prescribe either oral or topical antibiotics to eliminate or reduce the bacterial infection present in the gum tissue of periodontitis patients. Typically, antibiotics are recommended after the patient has undergone a scaling and planing procedure.
• Flap surgery – For people with advanced gum disease, surgery may be the only option. One such procedure is flap surgery, also referred to as pocket reduction surgery. The procedure involves a periodontist making small incisions in the gum tissue, lifting that tissue back to expose the tooth roots, then performing a scaling and root procedure. Gum tissue is then sutured back into place, and the gums are left to heal.

If these methods aren’t effective, your dentist or periodontist may recommend other more aggressive surgical procedures, such as soft tissue grafts to replace tissue lost due to recession, or bone grafting to replace bone tissue that may have been compromised as a result of the disease.

When it comes to gum disease, prevention is always the best option. Most of us can easily avoid developing the condition to begin with by regular brushing and flossing at home, and by visiting your dentist at least every six months for professional cleanings and oral exams.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true – New Year’s is just around the corner. If you’re trying to decide what resolutions you’ll make for the upcoming 12 months, why not make them not only attainable, but healthy as well! For many people, it’s easy to skip brushing your teeth or put off going to the dentist. Unfortunately, those decisions can lead to some serious dental health issues, like tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth loss! So avoid those problems altogether by making these New Year resolutions for better oral health. Not only are they attainable; the end result will be healthier teeth and gums!

• Resolve to stay on track with your oral hygiene routine at home. That includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. If you really want to amp up your routine, consider using a water flosser at least once a day and rinsing with anti-bacterial mouthwash before going to bed.
• Resolve to drink more water every day. Staying hydrated is not only good for your overall health; it’s good for your oral health as well. Water flushes leftover food particles out of your mouth, and it keeps your gums hydrated.
• Resolve to make your dental appointments ahead of time – and to actually show up for those appointments! Call your dentist in early January to make your appointments for professional cleanings and oral exams for the coming year. Mark those dates on your calendar and resolve to make it to each appointment. Remember that having your teeth professionally cleaned and getting an oral exam from your dentist are absolutely essential elements of good oral health.
• Resolve to have needed dental work done in the upcoming year. If you’ve been putting off have dental work done – whether it’s having a cavity filled, getting a new crown, or whatever it may be – promise yourself to actually have that work done in the upcoming year. Dental issues will only get worse over time, so the longer you wait, the more extensive the procedure will be and, most likely, the more expensive it will be as well.
• Resolve to quit using tobacco products. Whether you smoke tobacco or chew it, your oral health and your overall health are suffering when you choose to use tobacco. If you have a hard time quitting, there are plenty of over-the-counter products, apps, and support groups to help out.

Make the upcoming year the healthiest one yet with these New Year resolutions for better oral health!