Written by- Jessica Arnold

Posted on October 30, 2020 

If you’ve been feeling a little on edge lately, you’re not alone. According to a report released by Harvard Medical School and the University of North Carolina, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress levels in the U.S. by 55%! Elevated stress levels can lead to many overall health problems, including issues affecting your oral health. And the current public health crisis is highlighting how lifestyle stressors can impact health and well-being. New data from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute’s (HPI) COVID-19 impact poll reports that dentists have seen a rise in stress-related oral health conditions in their patients since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than half of the dentists polled reported an increase in teeth grinding (bruxism), chipped and cracked teeth, and disorders affecting the jaw muscles (temporomandibular symptoms). Over a quarter of these same dentists saw a rise in conditions like cavities and gum disease.

Stress affects your smile

It’s not uncommon for people under a lot of tension to begin grinding their teeth as a response to stress. Clenching the jaw or holding the teeth too tightly together during the day or while sleeping can cause jaw pain, earaches, headaches, and worn down teeth.

Increased stress can also take a toll on your immune system. Evidence suggests that a compromised immune system makes it easier for infections to develop and fester. It means the infections in the mouth, like canker or cold sores, can take longer to heal.

Stress can also lead to bad oral health habits like smoking, drinking, and neglecting a normal hygiene routine, including regular brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist.

Preventive oral care remains down

HPI survey showed that 99% of dental offices in the U.S. are open. Patient volume leveled off at just over 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels, indicating patients have not fully resumed the usual preventive care and treatment schedules. It is troubling news because it affects adults and children alike.

Ways to reduce stress-related oral health problems

It’s not possible to make the pandemic or the stress associated with it disappear overnight, but you can take steps to make your family’s oral health a priority and reduce stress-related oral health problems.

1. If you find yourself clenching your jaw during the day, take a few moments to relax your face and jaw muscles and let your teeth part. If you’re a night-grinder, talk with your dentist about solutions, like a mouthguard.
2. Build up your body’s immune system by getting enough rest and eating healthy foods full of vitamins and minerals.
3. Brush and floss regularly. Keeping up a good oral hygiene habit at home is the number one way to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
4. Visit the dentist. Dental offices are open and taking extra measures to keep you and your family safe. It could include pre-appointment screenings, temperature checks, extra cleaning and sanitation measures, and additional personal protective equipment for patients and staff.

Be sure to make time for some of your favorite ways to relax, like reading a book or going for a bike ride. It is also a great opportunity to try something new! Making healthy choices will help keep your physical and mental health in tip-top shape.  

http://deltadentalazblog.com/covid-19-stress-linked-to-increased-oral-health-problems/

Written by- https://orawellness.com/

The internet is full of misinformation around receding gums. What causes it? What can you do to make sure your gums are healthy? What can you do if your gums are already receding?

Let’s start by exploring a bit of mouth anatomy to help create a foundation for this discussion on how to optimize your gum health.

Gum tissue anatomy 101

Our gums are nothing more than a layer of skin that covers the bone tissue of the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible).

As long as the underlying jaw bone is intact, the gum tissue will stay strong and at healthy levels on the teeth. 

In other words, the only reason gums recede is because the bone that supports the gum tissue has withdrawn.

So, to figure out what’s causing gum recession, we need to first take a look at the 5 main factors that cause jaw bone tissue to withdraw, or demineralize.

5 main causes of jaw demineralization

Here are the five main factors that contribute to diminishing jaw bone tissue:

1. Periodontal disease (advanced gum disease)
2. Bruxism (clenching and grinding the teeth)
3. Nutritional deficiencies
4. Trauma
5. Genetics

The jaw bone tissue surrounds all sides of each of our teeth.

Unfortunately, the layer of bone tissue on the facial (outside nearest the skin/lips) surface is very thin, and for some people, it can even be non-existent.

The density of jaw bone tissue on the facial (outer) side of our teeth plays a very key role in gum recession.

The demineralization process of the jawbone doesn’t occur overnight. The bone slowly loses minerals, but its overall structure remains intact. If the cause of the demineralization has been effectively addressed, as long as the ‘scaffolding’ of the jaw bone remains in place, the bone can remineralize.

However, once the scaffolding-like structure of the bone also demineralizes, the gum tissue no longer has the support it needs to remain at optimal levels on the teeth. This bone loss does not immediately cause the gum to recede, but at this point, the gum tissue is very vulnerable to recession. Without the underlying support of the bone to keep it in place, any aggravation can provoke the gum tissue to recede.

How do we stop the gum recession?

We must first identify what’s causing the underlying bone to demineralize, to stop our gums from receding.

One common contributing factor is general nutritional deficiency, so it is always important to ensure you are eating a healthy and balanced diet. Below are some additional reasons why gums might recede.

Gum disease

Gum disease is common in modern times. So, unless we’re sure that we don’t have it, it might be best to operate under the assumption that we have an active infection.

Periodontal disease is a gum disease that has advanced to a point where the jaw bone is being compromised.

You see, in the mouth, the ‘thug bugs’ implicated with gum disease not only directly destroy bone tissue, but they also cause our immune system to go on ‘full alert’.

In an attempt to stop the infection, our immune system creates inflammation in the localized region.

When this infection is chronic (ongoing), it leads to chronic inflammation in the area, which also contributes to a breakdown in jaw bone health.

Bruxism (grinding and clenching)

The stresses of our modern lifestyle may play a part in why some people grind their teeth, researchers are now finding that nighttime grinding is very strongly associated with mild sleep apnea.

Trauma

The trauma of one accident can change the course of a person’s entire life. 

Overall, when we damage a bone, it commonly grows back stronger than before the trauma. However, in the case of our jaw bone, there’s so much risk of infection in or around the jaw that the common occurrence of ‘break it and it gets stronger’ doesn’t seem to apply here.

Genetics

The original thickness of the facial jawbones may be a matter of genetics.

Just like we are all born with variations in our skulls, the texture of our hair, etc., the density of your jaw bone may have a genetic component.

Some people may even have been born with a complete lack of jaw bone tissue on the facial surface.

Like we stated above, if the facial jaw bone diminishes, the gum tissue that was being supported by that bone tissue becomes more at risk of receding.

Written by: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/

Not Replacing Your Toothbrush Often Enough

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, so resolve to change your toothbrush every season this year. If you see frayed and broken bristles, these are signs it’s time to let go of the old toothbrush. When you’re shopping, look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Not Brushing Long Enough

Your teeth should be brushed twice per day for a full two minutes. The average time most people spend brushing is only 45 seconds. 

Brushing Too Hard

Too much pressure may damage your gums, so be gentle with your teeth. You may think brushing harder will remove more leftover food and the bacteria that love to eat it, but a gentle brushing is all that’s needed. 

Brushing Right After Eating

Wait at least 60 minutes before brushing—especially if you have had something acidic like lemons, grapefruit, or soda. Drink water or chew sugarless gum with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to help clean your mouth while you are waiting to brush.

Storing Your Brush Improperly

Keep your toothbrush upright and let it air dry in the open, when you’re done brushing. Avoid keeping your toothbrush in a closed container, where germs have more opportunity to grow.

Using a Brush with Hard Bristles

Soft bristles are a safe bet. And be mindful to be gentle, especially where your gums and teeth meet, as you brush. Talk to your dentist about what kind of toothbrush is best for you.

Improper Brushing Technique

Here’s one technique to try for a thorough brush: First, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Then, gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Next, brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Finally, to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.

Using a Brush That’s Not the Best Fit for You

Try different types of brushes until you find one you’re comfortable with. For example, a power brush can be easier to hold and does some of the work for you if you have trouble brushing. No matter which you choose remember that it’s not all about the brush—a clean mouth is really up to the brusher!

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/brushing-mistakes-slideshow?utm_source=mouthhealthyorg&utm_medium=mhrotator&utm_content=new-year-resolutions

Letʼs cover the statistics according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.


•  92% of adults have tooth decay
•  42% of children have tooth decay
•  greater than 90% of adults have gum disease
•  65% of 15-year-olds have active gum disease (YIKES!)

Given these numbers, what can we do to support our children in creating greater oral health for their lives?

How saliva benefits oral health… 

1.  Saliva is the way teeth remineralize!

There is such a buzz about remineralizing teeth in the whole real food movement today. What is important to note is that the teeth are remineralized through the saliva being washed over the teeth! We must have sufficient nutrition in our diet to have the necessary minerals present in the saliva to support remineralization. That said, saliva plays a key role in remineralizing the teeth.

The benefits of increased saliva production for the prevention of tooth decay are well established. Whether you believe general dental theory that decay occurs due to acids from bacteria in the mouth digesting sugars or prefer the theory most recently brought to light by Rami Nagel in his book, Cure Tooth Decay, tooth decay occurs when there is an imbalance between the demineralization of the enamel surface and remineralization produced by the return of mineral ions into enamel. The frequent stimulation of saliva, especially after the intake of sugars, will help to dilute and buffer plaque acid, bring extra mineral ions into the plaque fluid and thereby promote remineralization.

2. Saliva reduces the thug bugs that cause gum disease and tooth decay…

Research shows a clear relationship between the fact that saliva production declines with age and the fact of an increased risk of gum disease with age. Saliva has within it a whole host of ʻfirst respondersʼ for our immune system.

For example, lactoferrin is one compound naturally found in saliva. Lactoferrin is part of our innate immune system and is one of our key front lines of defense to help us live healthy lives. Lactoferrin binds iron in the mouth and thereby deprives the ‘thug bugsʼ that cause the damage of gum disease of the iron necessary for them to flourish.

Enzymes also play a key role in creating greater oral health. Of the salivary enzymes involved in maintaining the ecology of the mouth, one of the first to be recognized was the enzyme lysozyme, which appears to work by destabilizing the cell wall of bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

3.  Saliva helps to re-establish healthy pH in the mouth.

To maintain an optimal oral ecology is the key to creating greater oral health. While we can most effectively address optimizing the pH of the mouth through immune-supporting protocols like a nutrient-dense diet, restful sleep, and healthy coping tools for stress, saliva plays a key role in the actual mechanism of establishing what the pH of our mouth is going to be at any given time.

How to increase saliva production?

The principle “Use it or Lose it” applies when discussing saliva production. We must exercise our ability to produce saliva or suffer the fate of a dry mouth and the problems that come with decreased saliva production.

While we can eat to produce more saliva, the extra benefits to our health of the increased saliva are offset by the main job of saliva during eating, to begin the digestion process. Therefore, letʼs discuss a strategy on how to increase oneʼs saliva production without eating.

Mouth Probiotics! (AKA Exercise your spit!)

Step 1: Gather any saliva in your mouth into a pool on your tongue. Now using the musculature of the throat, draw the saliva back and forth from the back of the tongue to just behind the front teeth then back again several times (we recommend 30-50 repetitions). With practice, this action will increase the amount of saliva present in the mouth.

Step 2: Once you have a pool of saliva on your tongue, give your teeth, and gums a bath with your increased saliva! We call swishing with saliva ʻswashingʼ because itʼs like you are swishing and washing at the same time. Swash with the increased saliva for a minute or two then swallow it down and let the saliva now support greater digestion in the stomach!

This is such a simple technique that even young children can do it.

“Is the key to greater oral health already in your mouth?”, Oral Wellness.

https://orawellness.com/is-the-key-to-greater-oral-health-already-in-your-mouth/