Studies have shown that teeth grinding has increased during the pandemic; we can help protect your smile.

Now that we’re more than a year into a global pandemic, we are learning more about the variety of indirect effects that COVID-19 has had on the population.

We have seen it affect our mental health, our emotional health, and physical health. Studies are also showing us that the pandemic is also impacting some people’s oral health.

According to the American Dental Association, there has been a 60% increase in teeth clenching and grinding. It is common for some people to clench their teeth when they are stressed. Thankfully, teeth grinding is an easy condition to treat with a quick trip to your dentist!

You may not even notice that you are grinding your teeth. There are countless individuals who grind their teeth while they sleep. It is actually one of the most common sleep disorders. However, some people without a history of teeth grinding may start nighttime grinding if they’ve been more stressed than usual.

If you are waking up with unexplained jaw pain or headaches, it may be worth a trip to your dentist to see if you’re grinding your teeth at night. Untreated teeth grinding can cause accelerated wear to your smile and lead to unwanted tooth and jaw pain. Your dentist is able to detect signs of grinding and come up with a treatment plan to protect your teeth.

Teeth grinding is a common condition that dentists treat regularly. If you are mainly grinding your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend a mouth guard to wear while you sleep. These mouth guards are custom-made to fit comfortably in your mouth. They are highly effective at protecting your teeth and could actually stop the grinding completely.

If your teeth grinding is happening during the day then you may want to take measures to reduce your stress levels. Exercise, meditation, and deep breathing are all simple steps to take to reduce stress.

Some people’s teeth grinding may not even be caused by stress. Have you started drinking more coffee lately? High caffeine intake is actually linked to teeth grinding!

Remember to stay up to date on your dental check-ups, even during the pandemic! Our team is trained to detect signs of teeth grinding. We are able to fix any damage that may be done and also advise you on how to protect your teeth from unwanted grinding in the future.

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Modern technology has recently allowed archaeologists to test ancient remains for proteins specific to milk, and they can even tell you which animal the milk came from!

But how? You guessed it. By their teeth! Archaeologists have removed hardened dental plaque, called calculus, from our ancestors’ teeth and test it for these proteins. Fortunately for us, many ancient people didn’t brush their teeth. Unfortunately for our ancient ancestors, the lack of proper oral care coupled with the sugars naturally present in dairy probably meant a lot of tooth decay and pain. Over time, plaque built up on their teeth and hardened into calculus, locking in the dairy proteins and preserving them for us to find six thousand years later.

A study done at a gravesite in Sudan revealed that goat milk was being ingested over 4,000 years ago. Other studies in Africa have shown that sheep’s milk was also consumed, while evidence in Europe suggests our ancient ancestors also farmed cows.

This discovery doesn’t just prove that ancient humans drank milk from animals. It also provides a glimpse into the development of farming and dairying as humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to a more agricultural society.

Studying the evolution of lactose tolerance, scientifically called lactase persistence, we can see how cultural development and genetic adaptations can evolve together.

Generally speaking, the ability to digest dairy disappears as humans approach adulthood. Lactase is the enzyme responsible for allowing the body to digest milk fully. Without it, we show symptoms of lactose intolerance: nausea, bloating, and stomach cramps, to name a few.

However, some populations have developed a genetic mutation called lactase persistence, allowing adults to keep digesting dairy into adulthood. There is one primary mutation in Europeans, but in different populations throughout Africa, there are as many as four! Why? How were ancient Africans able to keep drinking milk when their bodies stopped producing lactase? Scientists now think that ancient African cultures learned that by fermenting milk and creating yogurt, they could eat dairy without the symptoms of lactose intolerance. Little did they know that by fermenting the milk, they were naturally reducing the lactase present, making it easier to digest.

These studies provide a glimpse into not only the history of dairy farming and the evolution of the agricultural society, but it gives insight into the determination of the human spirit, both culturally and genetically, to adapt to a changing environment.

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If you’re looking for a non-invasive way to improve the shape of your smile, veneers might be the choice for you. Veneers are thin shells of either porcelain or composite resin placed over the front of your teeth. Veneers only require a small amount of tooth structure to be removed and are perfect for people looking to change the minor appearance of a tooth or a few teeth.

Some dental issues that can be corrected with veneers include:

• Significantly stained teeth that don’t respond to traditional whitening techniques
• Teeth that have been chipped that are otherwise sound
• Patients with a few slightly crooked teeth who don’t want to undergo orthodontic treatment
• Gaps between teeth that are healthy and don’t require full crowns

Types of Veneers

There are two main types of veneers: porcelain and composite resin.

Composite resin veneers are made from the same material as tooth-colored fillings. Direct composite veneers are made and shaped directly on your teeth. Indirect composite veneers are made outside of your mouth by your dentist or a lab technician. Less tooth structure usually needs to be removed with composite veneers, and they often cost a little less than porcelain veneers are repaired more quickly.

The procedure for direct veneers is relatively straightforward. Sometimes preliminary models are mocked up to show you what your new smile will look like. This might be done with a digital scanner or plaster models of your teeth. Once the final shape and shade have been decided, your dentist will shape your existing tooth or teeth and remove enough tooth surface so the new veneers will feel natural. Your dentist will sculpt a composite veneer right on your tooth and harden the resin material with a curing light. After the veneers are finished, your dentist will make any final shape adjustments and polish them to shine like a natural tooth.

If you are having indirect composite veneers made, your dentist will prep your teeth and take impressions to use as a guide to make your veneers. They may be made by hand or with a 3D printer. Once they are ready, your dentist will cement them onto your teeth, make any small adjustments, and give them a final polish.

The process for porcelain veneers is very similar to that of indirect composite veneers. The same impressions are taken after the teeth are prepared, and after they are made, they are cemented into place. Porcelain veneers are generally stronger than composite veneers and tend to repel stain better than composite resin material.

Regardless of your new veneers’ material, there are a few things to keep in mind after they are in place. Veneers can chip or crack. Try to avoid biting your fingernails and biting into things like hard candy and ice. Regular exams are also important to ensure the veneers are tight against the teeth and free from small fractures.

If you feel like veneers might help your smile, give our office a call and schedule a consultation. We’re happy to answer all your questions!

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Science has found two very distinct links between a person’s oral health and heart health. Signs of heart disease may be noticeable in a person’s gum tissue, and someone with gum disease has a higher risk of developing heart disease.

Heart disease claims over 600,000 lives each year, and having gum disease increases your risk of heart attack by almost 30%. Those are some staggering statistics!

Studies suggest that your oral health and heart health are linked by bacteria’s spread through the bloodstream. When bacteria that live in your mouth enter the bloodstream, they can reach your heart and cause inflammation. Inflammation in the heart could cause endocarditis (an infection in the lining of the heart), clogged arteries, or stroke.

Some common risk factors for both heart disease and gum disease include:

• Smoking
• An unhealthy diet
• Diabetes

Symptoms Of Gum Disease

The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If caught early, the effects of gingivitis can be stopped, and the symptoms reversed. However, once gum disease progresses past a certain point, it becomes a chronic condition you will have for the rest of your life.

Symptoms of gingivitis can include red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss and bad breath. When gum disease progresses, symptoms can range from gums that appear to pull away from the teeth to bone loss causing your teeth to become loose.

Keep Your Mouth And Heart Healthy

While some people may be more genetically predisposed to developing heart disease or gum disease, that doesn’t mean you don’t have any control in the matter. A healthy lifestyle and caring for your body are the best preventive measures you can take to reduce your risk of developing these potentially deadly diseases.

Here are some ways to help prevent heart disease and gum disease:

• Brush and floss twice a day
• See your dentist for regular exams even if you have full dentures
• Don’t smoke cigarettes or vape and avoid smokeless tobacco products
• Eat a healthy diet that’s low in processed foods and sugar
• Drink plenty of water
• Exercise regularly

Even if you have already been diagnosed with heart disease or gum disease, it’s never too late to make changes in your life to reduce their progression. Adopting these new habits can be beneficial to your health and help keep you strong and healthy at any age.

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Pregnancy and the promise of the pitter-patter of little feet and long afternoon snuggles with your newborn is an exciting time for any parent-to-be, but it is also a stressful time filled with a seemingly endless list of things that need to be done.

It might tempt you to put off your next cleaning or reschedule that restorative appointment but caring for your mouth and teeth while you’re pregnant is one of the most important things you can do to help you and your unborn bundle of joy stay healthy.

During pregnancy, your body is working for two. It puts a strain on all your organs. Science has discovered a link between gingivitis and systemic illnesses, like high blood pressure and thyroid problems, which suggests that untreated gum disease can affect your unborn baby as well as lower your immune system. Cutting corners on brushing or skipping your daily flossing routine has also been linked to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and premature delivery.

Gums, Hormones, and Morning Sickness

When you’re pregnant, your body increases its production of progesterone. This surge increases blood flow to the tissues of the body, including the gums. This causes inflammation in the gums. Progesterone also changes how gum tissue reacts to the bacteria in plaque, causing it to inflame even more. When this happens, you develop a condition called pregnancy gingivitis, affecting more than 40% of pregnancies. Symptoms may include bad breath and swollen, red, sensitive gums that bleed easily. Untreated gingivitis during pregnancy can lead to periodontal disease, which, in turn, can lead to preterm birth or low birth weight.

Morning sickness is one of those things that affects most but not all pregnancies. If you are one of the 70% of moms who experience morning sickness, you also have an increased risk of developing cavities.

Sometimes during pregnancy, a woman’s gums begin to overgrow around and in between their teeth. It’s called pregnancy tumors, but they are not cancerous and usually disappear after giving birth. It is actually an inflammatory response to plaque or food particles and can affect up to 10% of women, most of whom also have pregnancy gingivitis.

Some Extra Care

Your dentist may recommend an extra exam and cleaning to remove any excess plaque buildup and check for any cavities to help prevent pregnancy gingivitis and other pregnancy-related dental issues. They may also suggest you brush thoroughly after bouts of morning sickness and floss more often than once a day.

Pregnancy can be an exciting but overwhelming time. Brushing and flossing regularly and seeing your dentist can help keep you healthy during pregnancy. Remember, self-care isn’t just spa days and pedicures; it’s also taking the time to care for you and your baby.

The post Keeping Mom And Baby Healthy And Happy During Pregnancy appeared first on Dentistry For You | Tulsa Midtown Dentist | Tulsa, OK.

Except for a few leaps in design over the last 3,000 years, toothbrushes haven’t changed much since ancient Babylonians chewed on the end of a twig until its pulp was soft like a brush. One change that significantly improved the toothbrush’s function was the development of the electric toothbrush in the late-1930s in Switzerland. The electric toothbrush allowed people to care for their mouths more efficiently and helped people with arthritis and other muscle-control issues be a little more independent.

The Same, But Different

While each electric toothbrush looks similar, each brand has unique features to appeal to different users. Some have heads that rotate or oscillate, and others use ultrasonic technology to break up plaque and food debris. Some have timers that beep at certain intervals, and others have multiple settings for specific issues like massaging your gums or stopping the brush head when you’re brushing too hard.

But each model offers the same benefit: The ability to gently hold the brush in place while the motor and bristles do the hard work of cleaning the teeth.

Relief for Aching Joints

For patients with arthritis and other conditions that affect the joints and muscles, electric toothbrushes put a little control back in their hands. It might not seem like a big deal to most of us, but the ability to brush your own teeth when you haven’t been able to grip a toothbrush well can make all difference in one’s self-esteem.

Perfect for Little Hands

Children don’t usually develop the dexterity to brush without help until they are about seven years old or can tie their shoelaces unaided. Even then, experts recommend adults help children brush their teeth or at least monitor their brushing habits to avoid cavities. An electric toothbrush helps kids feel a little independence while brushing. There are many different electric models for children on the market today. Some have bright, flashing lights, and others play songs for the recommended two-minute brushing time.

Deeper Clean for Orthodontic Patients

Patients who have traditional braces can greatly improve their home care by using an electric toothbrush. They can clean more thoroughly, and the oscillating or vibrating brush head means bristles can get into smaller spaces more easily than a manual toothbrush. Just make sure the bristles are soft, and the brush head is small so it can get into the spaces between the brackets and teeth.

While everyone can benefit from an electric toothbrush, they are not a replacement for professional cleanings or an excuse to skimp on your homecare routine. An electric toothbrush can help boost your at-home care and help compensate for coordination problems due to age and medical issues. However, you should still consider asking for help if brushing and holding a toothbrush is difficult.

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Dental offices are open again. Here’s why it’s safe (and important) to get back on the schedule and use your dental benefits before they expire.

For a few months, dental offices were advised only to see emergencies and cancel what was considered non-essential dentistry. But we’re open again and, with new safety procedure guidelines from the CDC and ADA on top of our already stringent sterilization procedures, it’s the best time to return to our office and get back on the schedule. In fact, as of the writing of this post, not one case of COVID-19 has been traced to a dental office.

Not only is it safe, but it’s also the perfect time to use any remaining dental benefits before they expire at the end of the year. By scheduling now, you can have your next cleaning and still have time to schedule any restorative treatment you may need using your 2020 benefits. Unlike many things this year, the clock didn’t stop ticking on your insurance.

So, what does a dental visit look like in this post-COVID-19 world? Here are a few of the new safety precautions you may encounter:

• A few days before your appointment, we will ask you some prescreening questions to see if you or anyone in your household has been exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you or anyone you have been in contact with has experienced a fever or flu-like symptoms within the last several days. You may be asked to sign a COVID-19 patient consent form.
• To limit the number of people in the treatment and reception areas at any one time, please only bring yourself to your appointment. If the appointment is for one of your children, we may ask that they come in by themselves, if possible.
• We may ask you to wait in your car and call our office when you arrive. We will tell you when it’s ok to come in and ask that you wear your mask or face covering while in our reception area.
• Once you are in our office, we will ask the same screening questions again just to be sure nothing has changed. We will take your temperature and the temperature of anyone you bring with you. You may also notice that we have removed magazines, children’s toys, etc. because they are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• After we sit you in the treatment chair, you might notice that we don’t use the ultrasonic scaler, high-volume suction, or the polisher as much as we used to during previous visits. This helps keep small particles, called aerosols, to a minimum. We may also ask you to rinse with a special disinfecting mouthwash before we start your treatment.
• Once your appointment is finished, we may ask for a contactless payment method or ask that you sign any forms electronically.
• Once you leave, we will thoroughly disinfect every surface to prepare for the next patient.

You may be tempted to delay your appointment, but postponing a regular exam, cleaning, or minor treatment can potentially turn a small cavity into a root canal that may result in time out of work and more out-of-pocket expenses.

Cleaning is not just a polish and shine. We perform oral cancer screenings and look for lesions on the gums, cheeks, and tongue. We also check your neck, jaw, and lymph nodes for any swelling, lumps, or other abnormalities. If an abnormality is found, we will refer you to a specialist. These screenings are lifesaving and delaying them could mean the difference between a small biopsy or major surgery. We also check for cavities, abscesses, and signs of periodontal disease.

These temporary changes may sound and look alarming at first, but they are for the safety of our team as well as our patients. From daily staff temperature screenings, face shields, and other forms of PPE to medical-grade HEPA filters, we have done everything we can to make sure each stage of your visit is clean and safe for all of us, and we can’t wait to see you back in our office!

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The word abscess can conjure the old-fashioned image of someone with a towel tied around their head with a painful grimace on their face. Thankfully, those days are gone, and with the help of modern technology, they can be quickly and painlessly treated.

“Abscess” is a fancy word for an infection. In dentistry, there are two main types of abscesses. A periapical abscess happens at the root of a tooth when either decay enters the nerve chamber or a traumatic injury or crack in the tooth damages the nerve. A periodontal abscess occurs when the gum becomes infected. A periodontal abscess can affect one or more teeth and can result in widespread periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic gum infection that can weaken the bone and may result in bone and tooth loss if untreated.

What are the Symptoms of an Abscess?

The most common symptoms of an abscess include:

• Fever
• Facial swelling
• Bad breath, rotten or sour taste in your mouth
• Soreness in your neck and jaw
• Throbbing toothaches that can radiate to the jawbone, neck, or ear
• Hot or cold tooth sensitivity that lingers longer than a few seconds

In some cases, an abscess causes no pain, or the pain varies in frequency and severity. Sometimes with a periapical infection, the infection inside the tooth works its way into the gum through the root of the tooth, creating a bubble on the gum. When the bubble pops, the infection begins to drain into the gum tissue and mouth, causing the pressure to release and the pain to go away. This doesn’t mean that the infection is getting better; it just means the pressure is relieved.

Treatment

If you have an abscess, there a few methods of treatment. Antibiotics can be prescribed to kill the infection, but the affected tooth, dying nerve, or periodontal disease must still be dealt with.

If the abscess is the result of a dying nerve, a root canal may be recommended. Thanks to modern technology, a root canal is straightforward. After the infected tissue is removed, the canals are disinfected and shaped, and a rubber-like material called gutta-percha is used to seal the canals and prevent reinfection. A crown is usually, but not always, placed over the remaining tooth to help prevent further breakage.

If you have periodontal disease, root planing and scaling may be done. This deep cleaning is done with anesthetic and specialized instruments. Sometimes lasers are used to help sterilize the pocket to help prevent reinfection.

Preventing an Abscess

While you can’t always avoid a sudden, traumatic impact that causes a nerve to die, there are plenty of ways to prevent decay-related abscesses and periodontal disease.

• Visit your dentist for regular professional cleanings
• Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day
• Replace your toothbrush every three months
• Never share your toothbrush with anyone
• Watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake
• Use a fluoridated mouth rinse before bed

With a little care, you can help prevent an abscess and periodontal disease before they develop, saving yourself the inconvenience and pain of a toothache and the expense of major treatment.

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Studies find that, on average, despite taking care of their physical health, many athletes have more tooth decay than their peers.

Athletes are known for taking excellent care of their bodies so they can perform at the top of their game. However, a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that of 278 athletes tested at the 2012 London Olympics, 55 percent had untreated dental caries and 76 percent showed signs of gingivitis despite having a dedicated brushing and flossing routine. In fact, 94 percent of study participants admitted to brushing twice daily, while only 75 percent of the average population claims to do the same.

But why?

Possible causes could be a high carbohydrate diet, sports drinks, energy gels, carbonated beverages, energy bars, decreased saliva flow during exercise, and in top-level, elite athletes, exercise-induced immune suppression.

Sports drinks, energy gels, and carbonated beverages are acidic and many contain added sugar for a jolt of energy. Sugars and acids wear away the enamel of your teeth causing sensitivity and tooth decay. Once enamel dissolves, it won’t regrow.

Citrus fruits like oranges are often sucked on for bursts of energy, but they are highly acidic and can also cause demineralization of your tooth enamel if frequently eaten.

Carbohydrates like bread and pasta give athletes extra energy because they are broken down by the body as glucose, giving them a little oomph to get through a workout or competition. These starches can also sit on teeth and cause decay.

Plaque develops when foods containing sugar or carbohydrates are left on the teeth. Bacteria eat the plaque and excretes acids that wear away the enamel of the teeth. If plaque isn’t removed well enough it can also cause gum disease and bone loss.

For athletic patients with braces, extra care needs to be taken. Sports drinks, energy gels, and high carbohydrate diets can cause decalcification around dental brackets. If not thoroughly removed, the decalcified spots can leave permanent white marks on your teeth or create cavities.

Even patients with removable aligners should be careful and brush thoroughly after eating and remove their appliances when drinking anything except water. If you can’t take your aligners out while drinking a sports drink, remove them and rinse with water as soon as possible to prevent the sugars and acids from lingering on your teeth.

Avoiding Decay

The best way to reduce the risk of tooth decay while you are in orthodontic treatment is to opt for water. It’s is simple to digest and perfectly hydrating. However, if your regimen requires the use of sports drinks or energy gels, consider using a straw and rinsing with water after you eat or drink to reduce the risk of decay.

Brushing for two minutes at least twice a day and flossing at least once daily can also help keep your mouth healthy.

If these measures still don’t help prevent you from being in the treatment chair, your doctor may recommend a fluoride rinse.

Remember that for an athlete in braces, you must be even more diligent with your home care routine, and it is extra important to see your dentist and hygienist regularly to deep clean areas you just can’t reach with a toothbrush and floss.

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Many children give up the habit before they start preschool, but for persistent thumb suckers, intervention might be necessary.

Thumb sucking is a natural reflex that calms, soothes, and lulls a baby or child to sleep. Even in the womb, fetuses suck their thumbs to prepare themselves to breastfeed. Most children drop the habit on their own as they get a little older and are more capable of processing their emotions. But for some children, the need to soothe isn’t satisfied, and they continue to suck their thumb or pacifier.

Most pediatricians and dentists recommend that your child stop sucking their thumb or using a pacifier by the time they are between two and four years old. In most cases, thumb sucking is not usually a concern, but if the habit persists or becomes a constant or vigorous habit, professional intervention may be recommended.

Can Thumb Sucking Cause Damage?

With a healthy bite, there is a small overlap between the front top and bottom teeth. Thumb sucking or continued pacifier use might prevent these teeth from fully erupting or cause them to protrude, creating an open bite, which is a gap between the top and bottom teeth even when the mouth is closed. An open bite can cause speech problems, language delays, and chewing difficulties.

If the habit isn’t corrected early enough, orthodontics or other dental treatment may be needed to fix any issues that may arise.

Help Your Child

Most of the time, the best strategy is to ignore the behavior. If your child is older than four or signs of a shifting bite or obsessive behavior are emerging, you should mention it at your child’s next visit. Here are some ways to help your child curb the habit at home:

• Praise your child when they have not sucked their thumb or pacifier.
• If you notice your child sucks their thumb when they’re anxious, talk to them and calmly ask why they feel worried or upset.
• Reward your child with a small prize when they have gone a predetermined length of time without sucking their thumb or pacifier.
• Make a game out of it! Make a chart for your child and mark each day with a gold star so that they can see their progress as a motivational tool.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, professional help is needed to break the thumb-sucking cycle. There are bitter-tasting ointments and habit deterring appliances available, and for the most severe cases, sometimes a trip to a therapist or psychologist can get to the root of the problem.

Whichever treatment method you choose, remember to use positive reinforcement to encourage your child. Criticism, nagging, or scolding your child for sucking their thumb might make the problem worse and cause more anxiety for your child. Provide a loving and nurturing atmosphere and reassure your child that they are safe and loved.

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