Even my dental hygienist can tell I am stressed out!

Everyone gets stressed once in a while, and we all know that it can affect your overall health but did you know that stress can also directly affect your oral health?

Stress has been found to contribute to grinding your teeth, gum disease, canker sores and dry mouth. Stress may also impact your oral health routine and your diet which can then increase your risk of tooth decay. Grinding your teeth can cause damage to your enamel which can result in increased sensitivity and overall appearance of the teeth. If you experience headaches or jaw pains when you wake up in the morning, you may be grinding your teeth at night.  Your dentist may recommend a night guard to be worn while you sleep to protect the teeth.

Stress can also lower your immune system and increase your risk for infections in the mouth such as gum disease and canker sores. The most common signs of gum disease are bleeding in the mouth when brushing and flossing. Treatment for gum disease varies depending on the severity; our dental hygienists, at Maple Mews Dental, will conduct a thorough exam known as a Periodontal Exam to find out the stage of your gum disease. Another oral health infection that can result from stress is canker sores. These are white ulcer like spots found on the soft tissue of the mouth and can be painful. Canker sores can be treated with topical creams or simply a salt water rinse daily and usually go away with in 1-2 weeks.

Dry mouth is another oral condition that is a side effect from stress and also a side effect from the medications used to treat stress and depression.  The mouth’s first line of defence against bacteria is saliva, and without it there is an increased risk of tooth decay, gum disease and infection. In order to create a better oral environment when you have dry mouth you can use some products designed to help increase salivary flow such as Xylitol mints and gums or Biotene products.

Lastly when you are under a lot of stress or going through a very stressful time, your general health can be affected. You may miss brushing or flossing your teeth during the day or you may start eating more unhealthy snacks which will contribute to tooth decay. Although your dentist cannot eliminate your stress, our team at Maple Mews Dental, can help you treat the conditions resulting from stress. Talk to your any one of our dental professionals at Maple Mews Dental,  if you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above.

Shared by Stephanie, R.D.H at Maple Mews Dental

http://maplemewsdental.ca/

 

 

Stress and Your Oral Health!

Our lives are busy and we live with more demands that ever before!  Many lead lives that are very stressful everyday!  We have stress in our personal lives, in our marriages and families, financial stress, stress in our jobs, and even driving on our busy streets! Stress affects our general and oral health.  In 2017 Make Your Oral Health a Priority!

There are several links between stress and oral health  including:

• Worn, cracked or broken teeth caused by Clenching or Grinding
• Poor Oral Hygiene –when stressed and busy,  brushing and flossing is often skipped and good nutrition often is not a priority
• Periodontal Disease – can be caused by Poor Oral Hygiene or a compromised immune system due to stress
• Jaw Pain – from grinding / clenching at night  ,often caused by worry or stress
• Dry Mouth – stress can  lead to dry mouth – which can lead to dental problems
• Missing Appointments – Stress and leading a busy life can lead to “no time” for regular dental visits or missed appointments

Our team at Maple Mews Dental ,  will work closely with you to develop a plan to take care of  and address your oral health problems including those that have developed or stemmed from stress.  Depending on your situation and needs, we may recommend a nightguard if grinding or clenching  , http://maplemewsdental.ca/patient-education/oral-health-problems/teeth-grinding-bruxism/, recommend rinses or other remedies for dry mouth, will make recommendations to treat periodontal disease and will discuss diet and home care for your gums and teeth.

Want to eliminate stress from affecting your Oral Health?  The Maple Mews Dental Team encourages regular dental visits , brushing for 2 minutes 2-3 times daily and daily flossing !

We Want to See you Smile!!

 

At Maple Mews Dental we believe that Good Oral Health absolutely contributes to Good Overall Health!

 

Dr Beata Rzepka , Dr Tracy Parker and Dr Matthew Chan, along with our entire team, are committed to partnering  with each and every patient at Maple Mews Dental!  We WANT to  help you reach your Oral Health Goals! 

 

Our dentists take time to focus on the entire mouth and they provide services including cosmetic dental treatment, restoring your teeth , fixing and repairing broken and fractured teeth, and replacing teeth. Our hygienists work closely with the dentist to take care of your overall oral health. 

 

Dental problems can be silent or painful, both concerns that need  treatment.  Gum disease is known to be a leading cause of tooth loss. ( http://maplemewsdental.ca/services/non-surgical-gum-therapy)   Our dental hygienists not only remove the plaque and calculus from your teeth …they do much , much more!  We have a fabulous dental hygiene team with over 50 years of combined experience ! (http://maplemewsdental.ca/about-us/our-team) Our dental hygienists will thoroughly assess your dental needs as an individual and customize a plan for you.   A thorough assessment includes a review of the medications that you take , as many medications affect your oral health . Many cause dry mouth which can lead to different dental concerns including decay and periodontal disease.  Your habits are also assessed; do you chew gum , drink lots of coffee or tea, drink energy drinks , smoke , or are you extremely stressed?  All of these can affect your oral health!  Are you brushing, and flossing ?  And if you are , are you doing it correctly?  It is important to us to introduce you to dental tools that will help you and to teach you to use them properly !

 

We want to work with you , your oral health is important to us !  We want to see the success you have in restoring your smile !  We want to see you SMILE! (http://maplemewsdental.ca)

 

In 2017 Make Your Oral Health a Priority!

When we have discomfort or pain in our body, usually we visit the physician.  This could mean a trip to our regular physician, the walk-in clinic or hospital emergency. So why do we ignore a toothache, pain, bleeding gums or irritation in our mouth!  It’s like we forget often that our mouth is part of our body!

Swelling in the mouth, face or neck may be caused by an infection of your gums or teeth and should be addressed immediately.  Excessive swelling could even be dangerous if it was to spread your throat and affect swallowing and breathing.

Fractured or broken teeth, should be repaired . Don’t leave it until you have pain … if left untreated , treatment is often more extensive and more expensive!

Do you have bleeding gums and think … oh it’s nothing !  You are wrong …your gums should not bleed when you are taking good care of your oral health! http://maplemewsdental.ca/services/non-surgical-gum-therapy/   Bleeding is an indication that something is wrong and a visit to the dentist is definitely a must!

Did you know that oral cancer is common and that each and every year thousands of people are diagnosed and lose lives due to Oral Cancer.  The dentists and dental hygienists screen regularly for Oral Cancer …. Just one more reason that regularly dental care is important!

Dental problems can affect our quality of life and can lead to and affect other health problems including diabetes and heart conditions. Many oral health concerns can lead the loss of teeth, which can affect the way we eat and speak.  Regular dental examinations can help treat dental concerns when they are small and prevent them from getting worse.

In 2017 be committed to your Oral Health ….Let our team at Maple Mews Dental Help you!  All of you is important …  Take Care of your Entire Body From your Smile to your Toes!

http://maplemewsdental.ca/

Back to School – Pack the Good Snacks!

With back to school just around the corner … it is time to pack school lunches! Most of us dread the lunch packing and what to pack for our beloved picky eaters! During school, when children cannot brush, it is even more important to monitor sugar content, thus what we are packing for lunches and snacks.   Taking extra time to prepare good healthy snacks for the body and teeth is essential.

If sweet, sticky snacks must be packed in the lunch box, sugarless gum or cheese eaten afterward is recommended. This will help to dislodge sticky food from the teeth and will increase the saliva flow, diluting and neutralizing the sugar-acid, which is what causes cavities. We highly recommend skipping the juice box and use reusable water bottles instead. Water is the best liquid of all!

Our team at Maple Mews Dental,http://maplemewsdental.ca has some great “Good Snack” recommendations for lunches and a reminder of the Bad Snacks … or sticky, sugary snacks that can lead to cavities. Packing healthy lunches along with good oral care and regular dental visits will keep your child’s smile happy and healthy! Our team at Maple Mews Dental would be happy to schedule a dental visit for your child . http://maplemewsdental.ca .

 

GOOD SNACKS

•  CHEESE AND CHEESE STICKS
• NUTS
• FRESH FRUIT
• UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE
• YOGURT
• PEANUT BUTTER
• CRACKERS
• BREAD STICKS
• RICE CAKES
• PIZZA
• VEGETABLES/DIP
• SOUP
• SUGARLESS GUM
• MILK & WATER
• CHIPS/NACHOS

BAD SNACKS

• RAISINS OR ANY DRIED FRUIT
• FRUIT ROLL UPS
• COOKIES
• CHOCOLATE BARS
• GRANOLA BARS
• CANDY
• DUNKEROOS
• POP
• LICORICE
• SUGAR COATED CEREALS
• GUMMIE CANDY
• KOOL-AID
• JUICE

Summer Camp Time!

It’s hard enough to keep your kids on a routine of brushing their teeth at home …and now it’s camp time! Moms share that they are concerned about oral health care, or lack of it at summer camp!  So what do we do ..keep our kids at home?  Of course not!

Let’s work together ! You know your children and how they react to and follow  instructions .  Many parents like to schedule children for a dental visit before attending camp.  This way , we can work with you, the parent, to put a plan in place for oral care , even give your child some tips to ensure they don’t forget to brush .. and of course that they brush regularly and properly.  It’s always better for our team to be the ones  giving the instruction … funny how kids always listen to others even though mom and dad give the same message!

We know that brushing and flossing may not be a priority at camp ! Our dental hygiene team loves sharing with children and teens a great utube video about plaque and the micoroganisms that live on their teeth…. and it’s pretty gross!  Wait until they get to camp and share that … their friends will want to brush too….or may consider it a science experiment!

The entire team at Maple Mews Dental is geared up and ready to battle camping brushing habits. Our dental hygienists Lori, Christine and Stephanie look forward to teaming up with you, to combat and win the oral health kids camp battle!

 

 

 

Do I need to brush and floss my child’s teeth?

                                      

Your child’s primary or first teeth are just as important as the permanent teeth. The primary teeth are needed for your child to eat and speak correctly and they hold the space for the permanent teeth. 

Baby teeth can appear by age of 6 months and many remain in place until age 13 or 14, thus the need to take good care of these teeth at all stages. 

Dental Decay in children is common, our goal at Maple Mews Dental is to educate you as parents as early as during pregnancy to help prevent dental decay in your children’s teeth.

Even with no teeth, we recommend that you clean your baby’s mouth. This can be done simply by wiping your baby’s mouth with a facecloth.

Once the first teeth erupt, they need to be cleaned, this can be done with a small soft toothbrush or finger brush, and there are many options available.  Toothpaste is not necessary for young children, simply use water and the brush 2-3 times daily.

Flossing is also important to introduce to your child’s daily routine, especially if the teeth are close together…. if there is no space to clean between with a toothbrush, flossing is a must. Regular floss wrapped around your fingers or floss picks can be used on children.

Find a time of day morning and night that you can focus on your child’s dental care. If you find it difficult to care for your child’s teeth, we urge you to be patient.  Some children just don’t like it … that doesn’t mean you should give up.. dental care is too important to skip! 

If you need some hints how to take care of your child’s teeth, please ask us, any of our team at Maple Mews Dental will be happy to assist you!

Good brushing and flossing habits started at a young age, along with regular visits to the dentist, will set your child in the right direction for a lifetime of good oral health. Our Maple Mews Dental Team loves children and looks forward to teaming with you to care for your child’s oral health!

Maple Mews Dental Team