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Stress is the body’s internal and external reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious.

Too much stress is known to be bad for us but did you know that stress can also cause issues to your dental health?

Dental Issues That Can Be Caused By Stress

Poor Dental Hygiene

When a person is under stress they tend to lose focus on basic habits and this includes being diligent with maintaining their dental hygiene. If you do not take care of your dental hygiene, your dental health as well as your general health will begin to suffer. This is especially true if you already suffer from periodontal disease as skipping any part of your dental hygiene program can worsen the periodontal disease. Another issue with being under stress is your nutrition changes. Most people dealing with stress tend to develop very unhealthy eating habits. This can include snacking on larger than normal amounts of sugary foods and drinks. These changes will increase your risk for tooth decay.

A good way to combat stress in your life is to maintain a routine of regularly exercising. Exercising regularly can help you relieve some of that stress and give you an extra energy boost. Exercise will also boost your immune system which is always a plus.

Teeth Grinding (also called Bruxism)

One of the main reasons why people grind their teeth is due to stress. Bruxism can occur day or night but it is usually a subconscious act. Stress is not the only cause of bruxism but it does make it worse. Some of the dental issues associated with bruxism include:

-Headaches

-Ear Pain

-Worn Down Teeth.

-Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Issues

-Sensitive Teeth

-Chipped or cracked teeth

-Receding Gums or teeth with notches in them at the gum line

Your dentist may recommend a night guard to wear while you sleep to minimize the damage caused to your teeth. Usually, if stress is the cause the bruxism will stop when the stressor is removed.

Mouth Sores

Mouth sores come in many forms. These can include:

-Canker sores. These are small ulcers with a white or grayish base and bordered in red.  There has been vigorous debate regarding what causes canker sores. Some believe it is an immune system issue, bacteria, or even a virus. Consensus is that stress can increase the risk of them showing up. Canker sores are not known to be contagious.

Canker sores generally last about 7-10 days. Spicy foods as well as highly acidic foods should be avoided as they tend to irritate the sores. One of the best forms of relief comes from a dentist prescribed medicine called Debacterol. This medicine is applied directly to the sore and can reduce symptoms as well as the length that the sores are present.

-Cold sores (or fever blisters). These sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are highly contagious. Cold sores are blisters that are filled with fluid that often appear on or around the lips. They can also appear under the nose or around the chin area. Emotional stress can trigger an outbreak. Other triggers include fever, a sunburn, or skin abrasion.

Cold sores often heal on their own in about a week’s time. Treatment is available, including over-the-counter remedies and prescription antiviral drugs. Ask your doctor or dentist if either could help you. It is important to start treatment as soon as you feel or notice the cold sore forming. The sooner you start treatment the effects of the cold sore will be reduced.

Periodontal Disease

Stress can lead to depression. And studies have shown that patients who are depressed have twice the risk of a poor outcome from periodontal disease treatment compared to those who are not in a depressed state. You can not make depression or the stress disappear, of course. But most experts agrees that learning healthy coping strategies can help reduce the risk of periodontal issues getting worse.  Also, people who are depressed tend to have poor overall hygiene and that includes dental hygiene.

Conclusion

Keep in mind we all have stress during the course of our day. Developing proper techniques for dealing with that stress can make a world of difference in the maintanence of our dental health as well as our overall health. As always, see your dentist regularly for dental examinations along with professional cleanings to ensure you keep your smile as healthy as can be!

Remember, eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene help reduce your risks of periodontal disease. Make sure you brush twice a day and floss daily.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

Periodontal Disease – is a progressive inflammatory disease, that affects the tissues that support and anchor the teeth. These support tissues include, gums, bone, cementum, and ligament attachments.

The main area in which periodontal disease is diagnosed and treated is in “the pocket”. The pocket is the unattached tissue between the tooth and gum, measured with a tiny ruler-like instrument called a periodontal probe. A healthy tooth generally has pocket measurements of 0-3 mm, whereas diseased tissue can be 4-15 mm deep, ( The deeper the pocket, the more difficult to fully clean). The measurements vary in what they measure, for example, in Gingivitis measurements indicate how swollen the tissue is, while in Periodontitis, the measurements indicate the loss of bone and gum tissue. If  left untreated,periodontal disease results in the destruction of the support structure, bacteria growth down into pockets, toxin release (to breakdown attachments),  loosening of teeth, and subsequent tooth loss.

Stages of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is said to affect over 50% of all Americans. Periodontal disease advances in 4 stages:

1. Gingivitis- Swollen, red, inflamed gum tissue. There has not been loss of attachment at this stage. Reversible with proper hygiene.

2. Early Periodontitis- Less than 25% attachment loss, as determined by x-ray and measurement with a probe.

3. Moderate Periodontitis-25-50% attachment loss as determined above.

4. Advanced Periodontitis-50% or more attachment loss.

Periodontal disease can be reversible in its earliest form. This form of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. But if the periodontal disease progresses to periodontitis then the damage is not reversible by the body on its own. Patients and dentists alike are always looking for ways to combat periodontal disease with newer and better ways to treat the disease and maintain good oral hygiene at home. The tried and true home methods have generally consisted of varying types and techniques with  tooth brushing, flossing, and antibacterial rinses. All of these methods have the same limiting factor, none of the at home methods could target the deeper pockets of 5 mm and above, until a new product was formulated in conjunction with the waterpik utilizing a special tip which places a tartar dissolving liquid  directly where it is needed. This new rinse is called Periogen.

What Does Periogen Do to Fight Against Periodontal Disease?

Periogen is a patented oral rinse that has been proven capable of dissolving tartar buildup between professional cleanings and dentist visits. Periogen works by exploiting a weakness (discovered by the research team at the Periogen Company) in the fundamental structure  of oral tartar, and its adhesive nature.

Tartar (or calculus as it is sometimes called) can be found above and below the gum line. Tartar above the gum line is referred to as supra gingival tartar and tartar below the gum line is referred to as sub gingival tartar. Dental Tartar is comprised almost entirely of Calcium Phosphate Salt. Calcium Phosphate is the basic component of tooth material. Calcium phosphate salt differs from calcium phosphate in its electron structure. The calcium phosphate salt has two less electrons than the calcium phosphate which makes it electrically unstable. This process of losing electrons happens in nature all the time. The best comparison is the buildup of lime deposits in water pipes and faucets. Microscopically, tartar is layer upon layer (can be in the tens of thousands layers) of fossilized bacteria trapped between the calcium salts.

The tartar causes periodontal disease by toxins released by the bacteria in plaque and tartar on teeth. The toxins cause the body to react by starting the inflammatory

Periogen Oral rinse for Dissolving Tartar Between Professional Cleanings

process thereby destroying healthy gum tissue and supporting bone structures. Periodontal disease is progressive and without periodontal disease treatment will lead to tooth loss and infections throughout the mouth.

Periogen is used as an oral rinse 1-2 times per day between professional cleanings to reduce the level of tartar buildup and stain. This will in turn make for an easier dental visit but also maintain a healthier state in your mouth for your teeth and gums to heal. Periogen should in no way replace brushing and flossing, or visits to the dentist but just works as an accessory between professional dental cleanings to give you a more effective way to reduce tartar and fight periodontal disease .

Periogen Conclusion

As you know, there are many methods and products on the market to aide you in your dental hygiene and combat periodontal disease. Remember this, “The best  offense is a good defense!”.   It is up to you to find and decide what works best for you to prevent periodontal.disease. Visit your dentist regularly for dental examinations and professional cleanings to ward off dental problems and stay healthy.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

Crooked teeth (also called malocclusion) can affect almost 75% of all American adults. Malocclusion can significantly affect oral health over the course of a lifetime, leaving you with increased chances of developing periodontal disease and increased wear and trauma to teeth.

Types Of Malocclusion

-Crossbite – A crossbite is when the lower teeth overlap or come out even with the upper teeth. In a normal occlusion the upper teeth overlap the lower ones but when a crossbite (can occur on either side or both) is present, the opposite is true. This can lead to premature wear, increased risk of chipping or fracturing your teeth, development of abfraction (small notch in tooth at the gumline), and periodontal disease.

-Excessive Overjet – This occurs when the upper front teeth are too far out in front of the lower teeth. This can lead to increased trauma as well as an increase to chipping or fracturing of teeth (especially the front ones).

-Edge To Edge Bite – This occurs when the teeth touch one another edge to edge (or cusp to cusp). The teeth do not fit together propely allowing the biting surfaces to touch. This will lead to increased risk of chipping and fracturing, Temperomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain, as well as short, worn down teeth.

-Open Bite – This is a common occurence from thumb sucking or can be genetic. It is when there is a space between the front upper teeth and the front lower teeth upon closing. Not only is this an unesthetic option but it can lead to abfraction, is difficult to bite and tear food ,and causes excessive, premature wear of the back teeth.

-Over Bite- This is when the upper front teeth completely cover the lower front teeth. Often, the lower teeth hit into the backs of the upper teeth and sometimes into the roof of the mouth.

-Under Bite- This occurs when the lower jaw has grown more quickly than the upper jaw. The lower front teeth and jaw have grown in front of the upper teeth.

-Tooth Size Arch Length Discrepency- When your teeth are too large for your jaw space and cause extreme crowding or when your teeth are too small for your mouth. Crowding can lead to decay, fracture, and periodontal disease. Small teeth are generally a major cosmetic issue.

The General Health Danger

Gum disease is commonly found along with malocclusion, due to difficulty in maintaining good oral hygiene when teeth are not in proper position.

Periodontal disease has been linked to many systemic diseases through various studies. Some of these diseases include heart disease, diabetes, and alzheimer’s. Periodontal disease generally takes years of neglect to develop. There are various stages of periodontal disease progression, they include:

-Gingivitis – The earliest stage. The only stage that is reversible with proper dental care. This stage is characterized by swollen, red gum tissues, bleeding upon brushing, as well as bad breath (halitosis). If treated before it progresses, it can be reversed back to a normal, healthy, gingival state.

-Periodontitis – This is the stage that develops following ginigvitis. It is not reversible but can be controlled. Damage to teeth, bone, and gums can be limited with proper dental care. During this stage, the supporting tissues around the teeth may break down leading to gum recession and bone loss around the teeth.

-Advanced Periodontitis – This stage increases the bone loss and gum recession leading to loosening of teeth with the real possibility of losing one or more teeth.

How Do Crooked Teeth Affect Our Mouths?

When teeth are crowded and not aligned properly, the plaque and bacteria that forms on our teeth during everyday food consumption  becomes much more difficult to remove. This makes it difficult to  maintain a good state of health. Many times, flossing and brushing areas of overcrowded teeth will become very difficult. These areas are generally called a “plaque trap” for their ability to constantly trap food and debris.  As mentioned earlier, without proper care, plaque traps can lead to bone loss, gum recession, and even tooth loss.

Another cause for concern is wear and trauma to the teeth. Poorly aligned teeth can create unnatural stresses on the teeth and the jaws. Teeth subjected to excessive pressures can develop chipping, fracturing, and abfractions. Premature wear can also lead to lost teeth, loose teeth and even root canal therapy.

Finally, crowded teeth affect your systemic health by allowing bacteria to grow and flourish unabated in these crowded areas. Over time, this can lead to devastating life threatening effects like heart disease and stroke.

What Can Be Done To Combat Crooked Teeth?

Fortunately, in many cases the simple solution is increased visits to the dentist for professional cleanings as well as diligent  home care.  When there is undue stress placed on the teeth that can cause trauma and wear over time, Orthodontics is the answer in most cases. Orthodontics is a type of dentistry dealing with crowded or misaligned teeth. Proper orthodontic treatment can, in many cases, restore your smile and make it easier to maintain it.

Orthodontics In Henderson NV Conclusion

Orthodontics is not just for cosmetic reasons. We are not all born with perfectly straight teeth and sometimes we need a little help to get there. The bottom line is to have beautiful teeth and gums that make you feel confident and healthy. Your smile should  last you a lifetime!

© 2013, . All rights reserved. Cosmetic Dentist In Henderson NV