Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth
February 15, 2012 | 
Author Grinding and clenching your teeth can lead to serious jaw and teeth problems.
If you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw or headache after sleeping or after being stressed, you may be suffering from grinding or clenching your teeth. This may occur because of stress, sleep disorders, or an abnormal bite from crooked or missing teeth. By grinding or clenching your teeth, you can end up with fractured, painful, or even loose teeth. If the grinding or clenching occurs due to stress, protect your teeth from damage by relaxing in your own way and also by doing physical therapy exercises to release tension in your jaw muscles. Another way to protect your teeth is by having a bite guard made especially for you by your dentist to wear at night to help relieve some of the tension by placing your mouth in a better, more comfortable position.
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Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies happen each day, and precautions can be taken against them, but sometimes they cannot be avoided.
Dental emergencies occur every day, but there are some precautions you can take to prevent a dental emergency. These precautions include wearing a mouth guard when playing sports, cutting tape with scissors instead of using your teeth, and avoiding chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy. If an accident does occur, simple steps can be taken to prevent the loss of the tooth.
If an object gets caught between teeth, try to remove the object with dental floss. If you cannot get the object out, call your dentist.
If you crack a tooth, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the crack occurred and contact your dentist to schedule an appointment to fix the crack.
If you break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water and use cold compresses to keep the swelling down. In this case, you should see your dentist immediately as well.
If your tooth is knocked out, hold the tooth by the crown. DO NOT rinse or remove tissue. If you can reinsert the tooth, do so and hold in place. If not, place the tooth in a cup of milk. In any case go to the dentist immediately with your tooth.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants are a way to replace missing teeth with a natural feel.
If you are missing teeth and want a smile that looks and feels real, dental implants may be the option for you. A dental implant is a surgically placed post that fuses with the jaw bone. This fusion creates more stability for the crown, bridge, or denture being placed on the implant. During the surgery of the implant, the dentist will place anchor and post. Next, the tissue around the implant is allowed to heal for many weeks. After the tissue is healed, the crown or denture is fitted to the post of the implant and then placed there. Implanted crowns and dentures can be matched to the color of your original smile to create a natural feeling in your smile.
Sedation and Anesthetics
Sedation and anesthetics can help many people with anxiety.
Many people have anxiety about seeing the dentist even for regular cleanings, but there are ways that can improve your visit, such as sedation or anesthetics. Anesthetics can be either topical or injectable. Topical anesthetics are applied with a cotton swab to help prevent pain on the surface level. These types of anesthetics are used for bad gag reflexes to help relax the muscles, for use before an injection, and for mouth sores. Injectable anesthetics are used to help prevent pain in a specific area during a treatment. This type of anesthetic can cause temporary numbness because it blocks the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain. These are normally used in simple procedures such as cavity fillings and crowns. Sedation is another technique used to help reduce anxiety about dental work. Sedation can come in two forms, nitrous oxide and sedative pills. These can help relax you so that you do not feel pain or feel anxiety. If you feel anxious about
visiting your dentist, then you should let them know so they can choose the best way to make you comfortable and relaxed when visiting the office.
Fluoride and Fluoridation
Fluoride and fluoridation can help reduce tooth decay.
For the past 65 years, the publicly funded program that fluoridates water has helped many millions of Americans prevent and reduce tooth decay by 20-40%. Fluoridation is one of the most effective ways to prevent dental decay. In fact, a study showed that for every dollar spent in fluoridation, $38 dollars were saved in dental costs. Fluoride is not only found in water, but also in toothpastes and certain mouthwashes. Fluoride acts on the teeth by making them stronger so they can be more resistant to acid attacks. Fluoride also repairs and remineralizes places of acid attacks. This can help to reverse early cavities and prevent new ones from occurring. For more information on Fluoride, please visit the American Dental Association.
Diabetes and Dental Care
Diabetes and dental care may be related.
A recent article in the January 2012 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) showed a study that people with Type II Diabetes who received at least two dental cleanings per year used less diabetes-specific medical care and fewer hospital visits/admissions than those who did not have regular dental cleanings. The study suggests that receiving dental care reduces the likelihood of going to the hospital with Diabetic complications. This study was done over the course of 3 years. For more information on ways to help reduce your risk, please visit the ADA.
Pregnancy and Periodontal Disease
Early birth and periodontal disease have been found to not correlate with each other.
In 2006, an article was published, reporting that women with gingivitis and periodontal disease can lead to preterm birth and low birth weights. Many people argue about treating pregnant women for periodontal disease, but a recent study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that the correlation between treated and untreated periodontal disease and preterm birth and low birth weights does not change. It should be noted, however, that periodontal disease is an infection of the gum tissue, and any infection can lead to serious complications with pregnancy and should be treated accordingly. Pregnancy can also cause a rise in gingivitis due to the hormones released, making the dentist ask for more frequent cleanings. Please visit the American Dental Association for more information on these topics
Root Canals
Root canals can be scary, but they can help restore the health of your mouth.
Inside every tooth is dental pulp, or where all the nerves and blood vessels are stored. This pulp can become infected due to tooth decay. This can occur when a tooth has a deep cavity or a crack in it, allowing bacteria to enter the tooth and kill off the dental pulp. When this occurs, the only way to save the tooth is to remove the infected pulp, take antibiotics, and the cavity or crack is filled and covered with a crown. For more information about root canals and what they entail, please visit the American Dental Association.
Sweets and Dental Decay
Sweets and dental decay can lead to cavities.
Dental decay comes from bacteria in your mouth that produce acids. These acids can cause holes in your dental enamel, which is a cavity. Cavities are able to create more serious problems in your mouth like infection that can lead to the need to take more serious action such as tooth extractions. Sugars from candy, sweet foods, and chocolate can help accelerate the decay in your teeth. But the decay can be easily prevented by brushing your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing once daily, and visiting your dentist on a regular basis. Eating a balanced diet and eating nutritious, low sugar foods can also give extra help in preventing dental decay.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are protective barriers against decay.
Dental sealants are protective barriers applied to the premolars and molars of the teeth. Sealants are made of a plastic resin that bond to a tooth’s depressions and grooves to help create a barrier for the hard to reach places from plaque and acid. Sealants are normally given at an early age to children to protect their teeth and then are reapplied later on when the sealants have been worn down. However, sealants take many years to wear down enough that they need replacing. Sealants do not mean that brushing can be ignored, but are a supplement to regular brushing and flossing as well as twice-yearly dental cleanings for keeping a healthy mouth.