Stress On Our Teeth? Oh No!

It’s the same during every holiday season; the frantic running around, work somehow gets even busier, and the commitments keep attacking and attacking without end. All of these crazy factors of the holiday season lead to one of the biggest enemies of our daily lives: stress. We can’t completely do away with stress completely, as it’s also a key driving force in our motivation. However, what we’re talking about in this blog are the effects stress has on our oral health and how we can feel less stressed out to save our teeth from meeting an awful fate as we get older.

Let’s get the obvious statement out of the way: stress can have some serious side effects of our daily lives. A big subject we tend to discuss in our blogs is gum disease. Stress likes to eat away at our health more than you realize; it lowers our immune system to make suffering through illnesses, gum disease, and other diseases possible. Another condition you may suffer from under stress: Bruxism. This term refers to the grinding against your teeth, and it is often brought on by stress. Teeth-grinding causes damage to the enamel of our teeth and can lead easily to tooth loss. It can also lead to headaches and soreness of the jaw. Tooth decay isn’t just a result of Bruxism, but also of neglecting our routine. It’s built into us that when we’re under tremendous amounts of pressure that we’ll neglect even the most basic of routines; such as brushing and flossing. This daily routine is imperative to keep up with no matter the circumstances. Stress may also lead to harmful conditions such as dry mouth and canker sores.

However, with a problem, there is a solution. There are tons of ways for us to get over the hurtles of stress so we may lead healthier lives. We’d like to take a few moments to provide you with a few resources to helping you feel more relaxed in your every day life:

• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety

• https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot#1

Here at Smile New Braunfels, we strive for you to retain a beautiful smile, whether we have to go through one procedure or another. We believe in safe and professional practices to keep all of our patients healthy and at ease. For any questions regarding us or if you’d like to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 830-629-8011.

Tooth Loss Prevention

Now, I know what you’re thinking: it’s easy, right? All you have to do is perform a daily routine of brushing and flossing accompanied by the regular six month visit to your dentist. While this is true, there are many other factors when it comes to be subjected to tooth loss. And yes, age is a part of that conversation, but as we get older and our bones start weakening, we must flip the subject to “how can we make our teeth stronger?” Let’s go over the variables about what you can do to help fight against Tooth Loss and to keep that dentist record going strong.

Let’s get the first, and most obvious, out of the way: your diet. One thing you can’t control while brushing your teeth are those food particles that are simply unreachable. What you can control: what you eat. Imagine the damaging effects from massive amounts of sugar or fast food intake compared to eating way more healthier foods. The difference isn’t shocking; especially since sugar is as addicting as any drug in the world.

The next no-go when it comes to oral health: tobacco products. We’ve already discussed the effects of cigarettes, but don’t let other tobacco products - chewing, smoking, or otherwise - off the hook. These products can hasten the effects of gum disease. Let’s say it once more for the people in the back, these products can hasten the effects of gum disease! Do not be the one to fall into the “it’s going to happen anyway crowd”; tooth loss can be costly both health wise and financially. If you’re stressed and have that temptation, start finding a healthier way to release that stress.

Speaking of stress, teeth clinching and grinding is another thing to be aware of. Bruxism (the official term) is done often unconsciously and when we’re at our most vulnerable. It’s imperative to understand why scraping your teeth together is bad. Bruxism can lead to bone tissue loss and already start loosening certain teeth. If you believe you are experiencing this, or find yourself weighted with stress, let us know. Here at Smile New Braunfels, we can create a custom mouth guard to prevent Bruxism - even while you’re sleeping.

Of course, one of the easiest ways to prevent tooth loss is by making sure you are flossing regularly AND correctly. There’s no reason to give up on your daily routine. Let’s keep your smile intact for years to come. Smile New Braunfels maintains a firm belief in safe and professional cosmetic dental procedures.

Take this time to check out our services and schedule your next appointment by giving us a call at 830-629-8011.

Procedural Spotlight: Teeth Whitening

The phrase “you are what you eat” very much applies to the color of your teeth. Teeth are often stained unbeknownst to us; whether it’s a sip of coffee or wine, or eating darker textured foods. At some point, you may want to start considering whitening your teeth to retrieve that smile. The first thought is usually the cheapest: over-the-counter products. However, some of these over-the-counter products can cause more harm than good to your teeth and gums. Which is why you should consider Smile New Braunfels’ professional and safe Teeth Whitening services.

Our Teeth Whitening procedure takes place over two appointment periods. We’ll first need an examination to see the extent of your teeth’s discoloration. Then an impression of your lower and upper jaw will be taken in order to design a custom-made mouth guard to hold our teeth bleaching product in place. Bleach splints will be provided for you to put inside the mouthguard. The wearing of the mouthguard only costs you 3-4 hours out of your day for a week or two. The results will begin showing efficiently – and without any changes to your teeth structure. You can even determine which portion of your jaw you wish to brighten.

While discoloration of the teeth can be caused by what we ingest, sometimes it can come from simply aging. That said, there are severe cases – caused by smoking or other unhealthy habits – in which our office will recommend a different treatment altogether in order to help gain a brilliant smile. For more information on our Teeth Whitening service, please visit our Services Page that includes a video on the procedure. Here at Smile New Braunfels, we believe in safe and professional procedures that benefit your overall dental health. If you have any questions regarding Teeth Whitening or simply wish to set up an appointment, give us a call at 830-629-8011.