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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