Can stress affect oral health?

Stress and anxiety are unwelcome guests in our lives. They are the root cause of several physical and mental illnesses. Did you know that stress can not just sadden your pretty smile but can even affect your teeth and oral health? This article will teach you how stress can impact your teeth and a few solutions, including Botox Therapeutics.

Common dental problems that can arise from high stress:

Here are the top five issues you will notice in your oral health if you are struggling with stress:

1. Bruxism and teeth clenching: Frequently grinding or clenching your teeth can create tension in your jaw. It can also result in teeth loosening, chipping, tooth sensitivity, and tongue indentations.
2. Decreased immunity: Stress can also impact your immune system, causing inflammation in your body to flare. It can result in cold blisters, canker sores, or mouth ulcers developing in your mouth.
3. Dry mouth: Dry mouth is another condition caused by stress. Reduction in saliva production results in plaque buildup, creating dental issues. Alcohol consumption to cope with stress can also cause dry mouth.
4. Gum disease: Stress can affect your body’s immunity, preventing it from fighting any dental infections effectively. It can result in conditions concerning your gums like bleeding gums, loose teeth, and bad breath.
5. Tooth decay: The lack of proper oral hygiene can result in several dental problems, including tooth decay. The lack of frequent dental cleanings to excessive consumption of carbs and sugars can damage your teeth.

What’s the best treatment for stress-induced oral problems?

1. Botox Therapeutics treats dental conditions like tooth grinding and clenching, resulting in subsequent headaches. The use of Botox for therapeutic purposes involves attaching Botox to motor neurons to prevent teeth clenching or relieve stress from around the jaw and gums.
2. Scaling and root planning are the best gum disease treatments for people suffering from gingivitis. Gingivectomy or gingival plastic surgery is another option that will surgically remove gum tissue to eliminate any dental problems and enhance your smile.
3. Nightguards are an effective solution to prevent teeth grinding or clenching. You can consult your dentist to design a well-fitting night guard for you. In just one appointment, receive an effective solution to protect your teeth from chipping and prevent muscle tension.

For healthy stress management habits, you need to start the following:

The best alternative to avoid any of the above-mentioned dental issues is to reduce the stress in your life. Below are a few healthy tips that will assist you in managing your stress levels:

• Exercising is a healthy outlet to release stress and anxiety in your mind. Opting for a regular workout routine will help you relieve stress.
• Practicing mindful exercises like mediation or deep breathing techniques is another alternative. Yoga is a combination of workout and mindfulness.
• Dehydration can also prevent your brain from functioning normally and cause mood swings. It is essential for your well-being to keep an eye on your water intake and stay hydrated.
• As humans, we all experience stress or other mental issues. Understand that it’s okay to share your feelings with someone. Consult a professional if required.
• Follow good oral hygiene. Be sure to include brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing before bed, and rinsing after meals. Make your oral hygiene routine a part of your self-care regime.

We hope reading this article helped you understand the correlation between your stress levels and your oral health. We have discussed the most common dental problems with the appropriate treatment. So the next time you note these symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist for professional advice. Contact Ashraf Dentistry today for more information!

All about dental plaque

Plaque forms on everyone’s teeth. When germs in the mouth come into contact with sweet or starchy meals, a sticky coating forms on the teeth. Plaque can be removed or maintained by flossing and brushing your teeth. If you ignore plaque, and it turns into tartar, this may become a problem.

Difference Between Plaque and Tartar

Many people confuse the terms plaque and tartar. In terms of bacteria build-up, the terms can be used interchangeably. Plaque is a sticky substance or film that forms around your teeth and can be removed with brushing and flossing. However, if left unattended for an extended time, it will turn into tartar, a hard mineralized substance.

The 101 On Dental Plaque

Plaque is a colorless or pale yellow bacterial deposit that occurs on your teeth regularly. It is a build-up that forms when saliva, food, and fluids come into contact with the teeth and gums.

The plaque includes acids that eat away at the enamel of your teeth and can cause gum disease. The harm could be irreversible if it is not treated. When plaque builds up and isn’t cleaned, it hardens, trapping stains and eventually converting into tartar.

Plaque accumulation can also cause gum disease, which manifests as sore, swollen, and bleeding gums. Periodontal (gum) disease can progress to a severe state over time. Gum tissue peels away from the teeth, causing germs to eat away at the supporting bone.

Treatments of Dental Plaque

You can remove plaque with the help of the following treatments.

Oral hygiene habits

Your dental hygiene routines are the most effective at keeping plaque at bay. Properly brushing, flossing, and rinsing your teeth will prevent germs from getting out of control and creating plaque. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day. You can take it one step further and be sure to rinse or brush after a meal.

Regular Dental Visits

During regular dental checkups, your dentist or dental hygienist uses equipment to locate and remove plaque. Cavities may develop as a result of plaque. To check for cavities, your dentist may suggest dental X-rays or scans.

Oral health evaluation

To detect problems such as tooth decay, oral cancer, and impacted wisdom teeth before they become life-threatening. Our experienced dental team will take digital x-rays and images of your teeth. Our dentist will further use these photos to monitor changes in your mouth’s alignment, movement, and overall health.

If our dentist notices something unusual, they will discuss a gum disease treatment with you. They will also assist you in choosing oral care products and other solutions that suit you best.

Professional dental cleaning

We’ll probably perform scaling and root planing if you have minor or significant plaque or tartar build-up. Or more comprehensive teeth cleaning, in addition to routine cleaning. This process will eliminate any accumulated plaque and improve your oral health.

Scaling and root planning; is a specialized gum disease treatment that eliminates calculus deposits and bacterial deposits beneath the gum line. It’s commonly done with a hand scaler and an ultrasonic cleaning, which separates the calculus from the teeth with high-frequency vibrations. This technique can often stop the spread of periodontics by removing deposits and bacteria.

Flossing and Polishing: Our dentists will clean your teeth of any plaque and look for periodontics or dental decay symptoms during your biannual visit. A polishing treatment will be included to give you a sparkling smile.

Getting rid of tartar and plaque can help you avoid severe dental and other health problems. Regularly brushing your teeth can help to prevent plaque build-up. However, if it worsens each day, you should see a dentist for gum disease treatment. Contact our clinic for more information on plaque and oral care treatments!

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry works for people that are anxious about their visits to the dentist. Sedation dentistry uses a moderate level of sedation to calm down anxious patients. In this state of conscious sedation, patients are aware of the procedure being performed, but they do not feel the pain. In some cases, sedation dentistry may induce temporary forgetfulness.

There are different levels to sedation dentistry. Oral conscious sedation, nitrous oxide sedation, and IV (intravenous) sedation are standard levels prescribed for patients. The right type of sedation for a patient depends on factors such as the patient’s general health and the dental procedure.

What is Intravenous (IV) Sedation Dentistry?

Intravenous or IV sedation dentistry is performed on patients that suffer from severe anxiety about dentist visits. IV method is also recommended for patients that have to undergo an extensive dental process at one go.

IV sedation offers the most intense form of conscious sedation. IV sedation patients remember little or nothing about the process.

In an IV procedure, sedative medications are administered in intravenous or IV form. The medicine enters the patient’s bloodstream directly. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels are continuously monitored through the process.

The dosage of sedation may be adjusted depending on the above parameters. If needed, your dentist may administer reversal medications.

A dentist with specialized training may administer sedation. Usually, a certified anesthesiologist at the dentist’s office administers sedation.

Benefits of IV Sedation Dentistry

In addition to relaxing you during a dental procedure you dread, an IV form of sedation dentistry has invaluable benefits:

Fast-Acting Sedation

As sedation medication is administered intravenously, the effect is almost immediate. You will feel calmer quickly. The feeling of relaxation is also deeper.

With sedation administered orally or through inhalation, the calming effect can take longer to set in. With IV, you will not have to dread waiting in the dental chair.

Easy Dosage Customization

IV sedation enables your healthcare provider to deliver a sedation dosage that works best for your anxiety levels. Adjusting dosage levels is easier in this method. The result is that you achieve a state of calmness faster.

At [client name], we have certified anesthesiologists that monitor sedation levels and adjust them according to patient needs. Together, we ensure a safe and effective level of sedation for our patients.

It keeps you Awake without Having to Feel the Pain or Discomfort

With IV sedation, you do not become entirely unconscious as with general anesthesia. You will be conscious enough to understand verbal communications from the dentist. The benefit is that you do not experience severe pain or discomfort.

No Health Risks

Anxiety regarding dental procedures can keep you away from essential dental visits. This can compromise your dental health. With IV sedation, you can manage your fear of dental visits better, making you more likely to schedule regular visits to the dentist. With IV sedation, you can feel safe and at ease.

Patients that Benefit Most from IV Sedation

While it is true that needs vary from patient to patient, a few common reasons make IV sedation the best solution for some patients.

If you experience any of the following, then you benefit most from an IV sedation:

• Hold an extreme fear for dental visits or procedures
• Pain tolerance levels are low
• Possess an oversensitive gag reflex
• Have tooth sensitivity
• An inability to sit still in a dental chair
• Low response to numbing agents such as local anesthesia
• Need a lengthy dental procedure
• Need to undergo multiple dental procedures simultaneously

How to Prepare for IV Sedation and Post-Procedural Care?

• Avoid consuming anything solid or liquid at least 6 hours before your appointment
• In some cases, you may be required to discontinue the use of certain medications such as blood thinners a few days before IV sedation
• Avoid makeup, jewelry, and movement-restrictive clothes for the procedure
• Call in a friend to take you home after the procedure
• Take lighter liquids if you want to eat after the procedure. Proceed to slightly heavier foods such as milkshakes a few hours later, once the numbness from sedation wears off. You can return to your normal diet usually after a month.
• Rest. It usually takes 24 hours for IV sedation patients to recover fully

According to American Dental Association, 22% of adults cite being “afraid of dentist” as a reason for not making regular dental visits. Avoiding visits to the dentist makes you more vulnerable to tooth decay, gum infections, and even mouth cancers.

Sedation dentistry is an invaluable technique to maintain your oral health without fearing your time on the dentist’s chair. Contact Ashraf Dentistry today for more information.

Did you know smiling affects your health?

The way a simple smile can elevate a person’s appearance and mood can be dramatic. Besides that smile has a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem and how they carry their persona.

However, dental flaws can lead people to be reluctant to smile. Thanks to evolving dental technology, you can have cosmetic dentistry. A dentist can perform procedures like dental cleanings and teeth whitening to bring a smile back on your face.

But before jumping into cosmetic dentistry, let’s understand how smiling affects your health.

How does smiling affect your health?

No one can deny that smiling uplifts the mood and spreads positivity. Not only mood boost, but smiling also helps your body release good hormones like cortisol and endorphins. These hormones, in turn, offer plenty of health benefits to a person. Some of these benefits can be listed as:

• Reduce stress
• Strengthen immune system
• Reduce blood pressure
• Elevates mood
• Smiling is contagious spread joy to others around you
• Smiling makes you presentable in a professional setting
• Smiling reminds you to stay positive

Apart from all these benefits, people with smiles are more likable and courteous. These qualities help to build a pleasant personality altogether.

Get excited about having a great smile

Why is it necessary to have a great smile? A smile is one of the best features that define your personality.

Regular smiling practice can improve your overall health and bring you a more pleasant attitude in life.

Here are some of the key reasons you should get excited about having a great smile.

• smiling makes you more confident
• smiling helps alleviate the stresses of the day
• smiling encourages a younger appearance
• smiling helps with attractiveness
• smiling helps to create a great first and lasting impression

You won’t believe it, but a smile is so contagious that even your own smile can consume you. That is why dentists always recommend smiling at yourself while looking into a mirror.

At-home tips: Apart from mirror smiling, you can also watch comic movies and challenge yourself to smile at any cost. All these acts can help you calm down and get rid of anxiety and negativity.

Adding to that, having attractive teeth and healthy gums can further boost your self-empowerment to a new level, encouraging you to put on a smile more often. For this reason, you need to maintain good oral hygiene. Moreover, you might have to visit your dentist when required.

Speaking to your dentist

As you know, having good oral health is an essential factor that affects your smiling capabilities.

Cosmetic dentistry is the medical practice that deals with dental cleanings, cleanings of gum and teeth ridge, and teeth whitening procedures. All these procedures are necessary for maintaining a healthy and sparkling set of teeth that you can proudly show off.

Furthermore, more sophisticated dental treatments like veneers, dental implants, dental caps, dental crowns, dental cleaning, and CEREC restorations are necessary to treat any oral deformities or disorders.

Smiling is undoubtedly beneficial for your health. On top of that, it also elevates your mood and adds adjectives like charming and welcoming to your personality. Hence, never hide your smile from the world.

Remember that a good smile comes from good oral health. So never compromise with your oral care. If required, do not hesitate to call Ashraf Dentistry.

At-home oral hygiene must haves

Oral hygiene should be made a priority for your overall well-being. You must understand that oral hygiene doesn’t end when you leave the dentist’s office. While brushing and flossing are crucial in maintaining oral hygiene, there are many more things you must do.

Why is it essential to maintain oral hygiene at home?

Preventing tooth decay and gum infections is a fundamental objective of oral hygiene. In addition to your oral health, here are five solid reasons why you should keep your teeth and gums clean:

• Minimizes the risk of acquiring health issues.
• A mouth lesion or other dental disease is sometimes the first indicator of a systemic ailment such as diabetes.
• Plaque formation is curbed by brushing and flossing regularly.
• You have the confidence to smile bright, thanks to regular oral hygiene.

What happens when you don’t maintain Oral Hygiene at home?

Here are some must-haves for oral hygiene, and all are readily available at local pharmacies and stores:

Toothbrush

This essential doesn’t need an introduction. Let’s discuss more.

Manual Toothbrush –

The proper use of a manual toothbrush requires a combination of strength, dexterity, timing accuracy, and coordination. Here are some benefits associated with the help of manual toothbrushes –

• Your dentist or orthodontist may recommend moderate brushing with a manual toothbrush.
• The price difference makes using a manual toothbrush simpler.
• A manual toothbrush is easy-to-use.
• Manual toothbrushes are compact and lightweight.

The manual toothbrush comes in two distinct categories –

Hard bristle toothbrushes

Soft bristle toothbrush

Sonic Toothbrush –

Electric toothbrush or sonic toothbrush is the gift of technology to us. Here are some benefits of using a sonic toothbrush.

• • Timers and assistance promote good brushing habits.
  • Thousands of strokes per second save time and prevent brushing one side of the mouth more than the other.
  • Better elimination of plaque and particles below the gum line.
  • We may love our dental hygienist’s companionship, but most of us will appreciate less plaque scraping.
  • Many electronic toothbrush users claim that this experience is superior to manual teeth brushing.
  • They are kid-friendly and teach positive behaviors.
  • An electric toothbrush makes cleaning braces simpler and more independent for youngsters.
  • Electric brushes prevent or cure gingivitis.

Not every tool suits everyone. Some reasons why individuals choose a manual toothbrush over a sonic toothbrush include:

• Replacement bristle heads are required every 3-6 months.
• The disadvantage is waiting for the power unit or discovering the base is not charged.
• The vibration intensity may have been too high, or the results may not have been as expected.
• Their quality has increased as well as their price.

Dental Floss

Flossing eliminates plaque and germs that a toothbrush cannot reach. Without flossing, you lose about a third of your tooth surface.

How to floss teeth properly?

1. Cut about 18–24 inches of dental floss. To properly handle the floss, wrap the majority of it around both of your middle fingers.
2. Using your thumbs and index fingers, gently pull the floss tight.
3. Insert the dental floss between two adjacent teeth.
4. As the floss reaches your gums, curl it in a C shape at the tooth’s root.
5. Continue the procedure from tooth to tooth. Use a fresh, clean piece of floss for each tooth.

Types of Dental Floss

Dental floss variety includes:

• Dental tape
• Standard floss
• Super flosses

How often should someone floss?

As a general rule, it’s best to floss before brushing. Flossing eliminates food and plaque from between your teeth, whereas brushing removes them from your mouth. Food and plaque might linger in your mouth if you brush first and floss afterward.

Tongue scraper

Here are some benefits of using a tongue scraper:

1. It cleanses your palate, allowing you to better discern between bitter, sweet, salty, and sour tastes.
2. Poor breath is irradiated.
3. Daily use of a tongue scraper helps the body eliminate toxins that collect in the mouth overnight.
4. Debris on the tongue may cause sour breath.
5. Tongue scraping enhances oral cleanliness, which influences your immune system.

Waterpik/Water Flosser

Here are seven reasons why a Waterpik Water Flosser is an excellent addition to your dental hygiene regimen:

• More Likely to Flush Your Gums
• Dentist’s Office Cleaning
• Brushing Your Teeth When You’re Braced
• Restoring Your Smile’s Natural Brilliance
• Chewing Gum Care

Who can benefit from water flosser?

Ideal for use with braces and bridges. If you’ve ever tried flossing with braces or bridges, you know how challenging it may be. Since flossing in these locations may be difficult, many individuals don’t bother. These regions may be spotless in a matter of seconds with a water floss.

Mouth rinse and Toothpaste

In light of the wide variety of toothpaste and mouth rinses readily available on the market, it is recommended that patients should discuss oral hygiene products with their dentist. Your dentist will help you make the right choice. This is an essential aspect of oral hygiene and must not be neglected.

At-home oral hygiene measures are essential and reap results. However, maintaining excellent oral health and a bright, white smile without stains may be achieved with professional dental cleanings.

Good oral hygiene and regular teeth cleaning treatments may help keep teeth clean. Still, even with these measures, tartar can form over time, necessitating frequent tooth cleanings. Consult Ashraf Dentistry today to book your teeth cleaning appointment right away!

PRP and its role in dentistry

For several years, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections were primarily used in surgical procedures. However, lately, they have become quite popular in the dental industry. It has been found that PRP therapy can significantly speed up the healing process after maxillofacial and oral surgeries. Besides this, it can also help in –

• Repairing the bone defects after removal of cysts or a tooth extraction procedure.
• Repairing oral fistula.
• Repairing palate defects and clefts.

Since Platelet Rich Plasma therapy does not come with many side effects or risks, any person undergoing a dental procedure is a good candidate. At the most, one might experience irritation, pain, or bleeding at the site where the injection is placed. The only people who are not good candidates for PRP therapy are those who have a bleeding disorder, like hemophilia. When in doubt, always consult! Speak to your family doctor, specialist or dentist before choosing PRP.

What is PRP?

PRP has become quite popular in recent years as it helps in patients’ recovery after a dental procedure. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is often used in wound healing and tissue regeneration after dental procedures like bone grafts, dental implants, tooth removal, etc. In PRP therapy, the Platelet Rich Plasma (the liquid part of the blood containing protein and water) is taken from the patient’s blood. Thereafter, it is injected into the diseased or injured tissue so that body’s reparative cells can be stimulated to promote healing.

In normal blood, the platelet count ranges from 150,000/1L to 350,000/1L. However, in Platelet Rich Plasma, the platelet count increases to 1,000,000/1L. When PRP is injected into the body, the high concentration of platelets helps in rebuilding the bone and tissue.

Benefits of PRP

Some of the main advantages of using PRP therapy in dental procedures are –

• Enhances the rate of bone formation: When Platelet Rich Plasma is integrated with synthetic or biological bone grafts, it can help in making the bone substitutes more cohesive. In this way, PRP therapy is able to help in bone regeneration or bone formation. Besides this, PRP also helps in promoting bone healing and increasing the bone density around dental implants.
• Tissue regeneration: Platelet Rich Plasma helps increase the rate of tissue synthesis, leading to faster tissue regeneration.
• Faster healing of incision sites: With PRP therapy, the wound or incision sites are healed faster, and the scarring is also minimal. This is because PRP therapy uses the body’s immune system to initiate the process of healing.
• Reduced risk of infection: There is a lesser risk of infection with PRP therapy, as it does not cause any form of disease transmissions like HIV or hepatitis. Besides this, the unfavorable effects and reactions are also quite less.

How is PRP obtained and utilized?

PRP therapy is a simple procedure. The process is usually completed within 30 to 60 minutes. A qualified professional first draws a small amount (around 55cc) of blood from your body, which is then placed in a centrifuge machine. This machine isolates the PRP by separating it from your blood. The professional would most likely spin it 2-3 times in the centrifuge for best results. After the PRP is obtained, it will be injected into the required area. The procedure is completed relatively quickly, and the patient does not require any downtime either.

In conclusion, PRP injections can significantly help patients in healing faster after dental procedures. Not only this, but the patients will also feel lesser pain and inflammation, and the risk of infections is also reduced. If you are looking to get PRP therapy from an experienced dentist, then you have to look no further. You can book your appointment with us today!

Botox: much more than a wrinkle treatment

Botox has been traditionally used in the cosmetic industry for several years for erasing wrinkles, fine lines, and other visible signs of aging. However, it may be surprising to know there are medical applications of Botox in the dental industry too. This article will explore how Botox therapeutics find applications in the dental industry.

What is Botox?

Botox is a pharmaceutical product. It is made from an exotoxin known as the Botulinum toxin and is produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Although it is classified as a toxin, it does have many benefits when administered in small doses by doctors. It is used both in the cosmetic and medical industries. As a cosmetic treatment, Botox is used in conjunction with dermal fillers. It helps get rid of wrinkles, crow’s feet, frown lines, and other signs of aging.

As a therapeutic treatment, Botox helps treat neck pain, headaches, and muscle pain, among other things. Over the years, it has made its way into the dental industry as it works by inducing muscle paralysis for short periods. Since Botox is a neurotoxin, it prevents the nerve endings from sending signals to the brain for muscle contraction. Thus, it helps provide relief in painful dental procedures and helps treat Bruxism, TMJ disorder, and other dental problems.

How can Botox help?

Botox is administered by injection into a muscle; it then tends to attach itself to the nerves controlling the muscle and works by blocking the nerve signals that cause muscle contractions. Botox does not affect the nerves connected to sensory neurons. It only attaches to the nerves connected to motor neurons. The effects of the initial injection will wear off after 3-4 months, after which the dentist can administer it again.

In dentistry, Botox is used for the treatment of –

• TMJ Disorder: TMJ disorder is when the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) stops functioning correctly because of muscle tension. It often leads to migraines and extreme pain in the facial muscles and jaw. Botox can help by decreasing the tension or pressure in the muscles and stopping migraines.
• Bruxism: This condition is characterized by clenching and grinding of teeth, and it often leads to jaw problems, headaches, and damaged teeth. Botox injections in the chewing muscles can help relieve the clenching and grinding of teeth.
• Headaches and Facial Pain: TMJ disorder, bruxism, and other dental disorders can lead to headaches, which can be treated with Botox injections. Botox is injected into the pain fibers to block the pain transmission-related chemical release. Besides headaches, some people also experience facial pain known as trigeminal neuralgia, which often feels like an electric shock. Botox can be beneficial in relieving the nerves in such cases.
• Orthodontic Therapy: Botox is also used for keeping the muscle movement restrained to prevent the relapse of teeth.
• Denture fixing: Botox fixes irregular muscle contractions, which helps people in adjusting to new dentures.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will the treatment take?

A therapeutic Botox treatment is usually completed within 30 minutes. However, much of it depends on the number of areas that are being targeted.

2. Is it painful?

While administering Botox to a patient, the dentist ensures the patients’ maximum comfort. Steps are taken to minimize the pain as much as possible. Most patients describe the procedure as a straightforward and pain-free one.

3. Is there any downtime after a treatment?

In therapeutic Botox treatments, there is no downtime and recovery period. Patients might experience some swelling and bruising in the injected area, and these side effects disappear reasonably quickly. Patients can return to their routine almost immediately.

4. How long do results last?

The effect of the treatment usually lasts for 3-6 months (depending on the dosage). After a Botox treatment, the dentist also prepares a treatment plan so that the results of the procedure can be preserved. When the effects start diminishing, a reinjection can be scheduled.

5. Will it take a while to notice a difference?

Patients would be able to notice the results of the therapeutic Botox treatment within a few days to 2 weeks. However, this depends on the area that has been injected and the size of injected muscle. The results usually last for several months. 

It is evident from this discussion that Botox is much more than a wrinkle treatment. Research suggests that it is quite helpful in the treatment of various dental issues like Bruxism, TMJ disorder, facial pain, and the headaches/migraines that result from these conditions. Suppose you are looking to relieve yourself from the pain and discomfort caused by these dental issues. In that case, Contact Ashraf Dentistry for therapeutic Botox treatments today.