Lighten Up and Smile
We all know daily stress can cause a myriad of health problems like depression, high blood pressure, skin disorders and even heart-related issues. Even more surprisingly, your stress levels could also be affecting your dental health. Stress related dental problems were known to ancient societies thousands of years ago and the pattern hasn’t changed. Here at Salmon Creek Family Dental, we understand how stress can affect your oral health, and we’re happy to offer advice on how to prevent the worst. Brush the Stress Away Over the last 30 years dentists have successfully decreased tooth decay in Americans by nearly 70 percent through the aid of regular cleanings, fluoride treatments and educational awareness. However, now, findings show that tooth decay may not be caused merely by poor dental care, but by stress itself. When the body is stressed, it increases the secretion of the suprarenal glands, which produce the front-line defenders against bacteria and germs. This over use of the foreign body fighters means they can become lazy when real bacteria is introduced into the body, meaning your body is less likely to ward off infection. Your gums are the first to be affected, showing signs of bleeding and swelling more than those that are not susceptible to stress. As stress levels increase in our bodies, our mood changes constantly causing mood swings and depression. Both can lead to poor decision making when it comes to oral care. Some people may start skipping the important daily dental regemine. Brushing and flossing are key to ultimate oral hygiene, and skipping them, especially during periods of high-stress could be detrimental. Further, when the body is overly stressed the tendency to develop bad-eating habits are heightened. This could include over-snacking or consuming overly sugary foods or drinks. Keep On Flossin’ People suffering from long-term stress are more susceptible to gum disease. Some may notice excessive gum bleeding, redness and/or swelling. Ignoring these issues by not flossing or consulting your dentist leads to further problems like plaque and eventually tooth decay. When plaque gets out of hand and cleanings alone can’t solve the problem, cavities form and the teeth are in danger of rotting and or nerve damage. A Real Grind Perhaps one of the most common dental-related issues associated with daily stress is teeth grinding or clenching. Nearly 40 million Americans suffer from bruxism and studies have shown that the ailment is caused by stress or age. Teeth grinding typically happens while you’re sleeping, but teeth clenching can happen during the day without you even being aware of the condition. Excessive teeth grinding or clenching can lead to TMJ, or the misalignment of the jaw joint which causes popping, difficulty chewing or the inability to open and close the mouth properly. Stress doesn’t have to take over your body. Learning how to relax in your daily life is your first step to healthier living and a healthier mouth. Further, a visit to Salmon Creek Family Dental is the best way to determine if stress is affecting your oral health. We can detect early signs of gum disease, mouth sores, teeth grinding and orafacial pain and also assist you in learning how to deal with stress better and offer you advice and resources. Feel free to contact us here at Salmon Creek Family Dental, your cosmetic dentist in Vancouver, WA, with any concerns or questions you may have about the health of your teeth.
Clean Your Teeth While You Eat!
Did you know that cleaning your teeth is easy as eating a few certain foods? That’s right, you heard correctly. Of course, sugar is the tastiest of foods, but let’s not stray away from an important lesson: What foods you are consuming can have profound effects on your overall dental health. More importantly, which actually help clean your teeth? FRUITS This food group contains some of our favorites that are natural abrasives. You can get a good tooth scrubbing from eating apples, strawberries or kiwis, all which contain vitamin C, which is considered to hold cells together. Without vitamin C keeping gum cells intact, they can become tender and vulnerable to disease. Apples are also a naturally detergent food which help clean your teeth. Wait, it gets better – pineapples are known to actually help whiten teeth as they contain an enzyme called bromelain, which acts as a natural stain remover. The enzyme also aids in the breakdown of that sticky film of bacteria on your teeth called plaque. Getting rid of plaque is essential since it contains acids that erode the enamel of your teeth. VEGETABLES Carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and broccoli all contain vitamin A which is necessary for the formation of tooth enamel. Veggies that are crunchy such as cauliflower, broccoli and cucumbers will help to clean and massage gums due to the increased amount of chewing involved. In fact, eating any crunchy vegetable helps clean your teeth. Onions and garlic contain antibacterial sulfur compounds which prevent tooth decay because they reduce the bacteria in your mouth. The preferable way to consume them is raw because cooking destroys the tooth friendly compounds. Celery produces teeth protecting saliva which neutralizes acid that causes cavities and demineralization. Broccoli has iron that forms a barrier which is acid resistant, protecting enamel while ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Further, chewing on fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley and mint aid in the decrease of odors from bacteria buildup. It’s better to eat them raw since dried herbs have nutritional lack, but they can be used in a mouth rinse, which you can whip up yourself. And basil even helps reduce bacteria because it acts as a natural antibiotic. DAIRY Milk and Yogurt are good choices because of their low acidity content, which basically means your teeth will be worn down less. They are also low in the sugars that induce decay. Milk is a great source of calcium which is the main component to healthy teeth and bones. Cheese is rich in calcium, protein and phosphorous. These elements are cavity fighting agents that help buffer the acids in your mouth. The calcium and phosphorous in cheese assists the pH in the mouth, creates saliva, destroys the bacteria that causes cavities and disease and rebuilds tooth enamel. MEAT Chicken, Turkey, Beef and Eggs have within them phosphorous which which is one of the most vital minerals of teeth and bone. Salmon contains vitamin D and calcium. NUTS The breakdown of nuts within the mouth can create little “scrubbers” to remove plaque. Sesame seeds in particular do a good job of this as well as containing calcium. We here at Salmon Creek Family Dental, your dentist in Salmon Creek and Vancouver, WA, we recommend a balanced diet because it’s not only great for your body and well being, but most especially for your mouth. At the end of the day however, you need good dental hygiene. Make sure to brush and floss and come see us at Salmon Creek Family Dental for your regular check-ups.
The Best Natural Sweeteners For Your Teeth
If you have a sweet tooth you may try to ignore the information about sugar and how bad it is for your oral health. If you crave sweet treats, there is good news, we have put together a list of alternative foods that are better for your health. After all, eating too much sugar can cause cavities, tooth decay and even toothaches. There are a lot of sweeteners that come from nature, and they can actually help improve your overall health from your dentist in Vancouver and Salmon Creek WA, Dr. Dale Nelson. Here are the top natural sweeteners Coconut sugar is a great alternative to regular sugar. Coconut sugar has more iron in it and four times the amount of magnesium than regular sugar. Adding coconut sugar to your diet can help slow down the absorption into the bloodstream and it is a natural sweetener that is not bad for you at all. Stevia Stevia is a all natural sweetener is made from the greenleaf part of a South American plant. You can purchase Stevia in a liquid powder form or in the raw. Because it is natural it is better for your teeth than regular cane sugar. Date Sugar Date sugar is super sweet sugar that can help slow down sugar absorption in the body. Dates are naturally rich in antioxidants, iron and in minerals and dates can help you stay hydrated. The sugar will dissolve in water so it’s best to use it for baking or sprinkling. Agave Syrup Agave is a sweet syrup that is made from the Agave plant and it is a better alternative than sugar or honey. It is good for you because it is all natural and can help prevent diabetes and heart disease. Many experts in the nutrition field and diet experts suggest using agave syrup instead of honey or sugar this is because it is all natural and it won’t raise your blood sugar level as much as regular sugar well. It’s okay to crave something sweet, but sugar is not good for you. Try these alternatives next time.