Stress Can Affect Your Dental Health...CHILL!
Researchers are finding that increased stress levels are adversely affecting one's oral health. Stress and tension over everyday events can reduce the immune system and adversely affect the body's natural defenses against disease. Stress can reduce important reserves of Vitamin C, which is critical to maintaining healthy gums and wound healing. Research has shown that people who consume less than the dietary recommended allowance in Calcium and Vitamin C are at higher risk of developing gum disease.
Recently a study has linked obesity and the risk of periodontal disease. Overeating is sometimes a coping mechanism in dealing with mental stress. The best advice may be to eat good balanced meals, with healthy fruits and vegetables in reasonable portions, practice good oral hygiene, and follow a regular doctor approved exercise program to help avoid obesity and gum disease.
Stress also can lead to a habit of night or daytime clenching and grinding. This natural stress coping habit is very destructive and can lead to jaw joint and muscle pain (TMJ and TMD) as well as worn, chipped and fractured teeth. This clenching and grinding can be treated with a dental nightguard, which is custom made in our office and lab. "Boil and bite" sports mouthguards and mail order nightguards open the bite too much and do not fit, causing increased pain and damage to the joint and muscles.
Many patients must take anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications to cope with everyday stress. Medicines like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft can have some harmful side effects. One side effect in 20% of the population can be a "dry mouth", as a result of these medications. A dry mouth reduces the dilution of sugars, food and decay causing bacteria, while concentrating dietary acids from soft drinks and other foods. Reflux stomach acid also causes more decay and damage in a dry mouth because it is not diluted and washed away with saliva. We treat this condition with salivary stimulants, sugar free gum, alcohol free mouthwashes and prescription fluoride to harden tooth enamel. However, if your doctor prescribed an anti-depressant medication it is important to not go off of these medicines.
The bottom line is, if you are suffering from a stressful life (like most everyone nowadays!), do not neglect regular daily oral care of flossing and brushing. Also regular dental exams and cleanings may reveal some stress related problems which we can cure or correct early before they cause serious damage. If you are feeling the stress of everyday life, keep a healthy lifestyle of good nutrition, exercise and a healthy mouth and body! And "chill"...take time to smell the roses!
BABY TEETH CONTAIN STEM CELLS!BABY TEETH CONTAIN STEM CELLS!
Primary (baby teeth) contain a rich supply of stem cells in the dental "pulp", commonly referred to as the tooth nerve in the center of the tooth. These cells are very different from pulp cells in permanent teeth. They are more immature cells that grow faster and double in numbers more rapidly than cells in permanent teeth. Researchers call the baby teeth stem cells SHED cells, for Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth. They have potential to be a future source of laboratory grown dentin, bone, and nerve tissue for treating injured or diseased teeth, bone and nerves! |
