The Effects of Stress On Your Mouth

Stress can take its toll on your entire body, and your mouth is no exception. This is why our Lynnwood dentistry clinic advises that you make a little room in your life for rest and relaxation, for the sake of your oral health. The potential effects of stress on your mouth include all of the following:

  • Clenching or grinding your teeth
  • Sores in the mouth, including canker sores and cold sores
  • Aggravation in gum disease
  • Nervous habits like chewing on your nails, chewing ice, or other objects
  • Overeating, particularly of sugary comfort foods
  • Depression, which causes you to neglect your dental care routine

The Importance of Regular Dental Visits

Prevention is Key

Why is it important for you and your family to visit our Lynnwood dentistry clinic every year? Many people neglect their regular dental appointments because they think that their mouths feel fine and their teeth look great.

However, there is more to a dental visit than giving yourself a cleaning. When you come in to see your dentist, you’re getting all of the following benefits:

Early Detection of Cavities

Tooth decay happens gradually, and you’re not likely to notice it until it’s too late. Only sophisticated dental equipment can give you the early warning you need to reliably prevent serious damage.

Early Detection of Gum Disease

Much like tooth decay, gingivitis happens gradually and can only be reliably detected by a trained eye.

Early Detection of Oral Cancer

Ninety percent of oral cancer cases can be treated if found at an early stage. Your dentist has the means to determine whether or not you have oral cancer.

Tooth Grinding Prevention

It’s possible that you or your children grind your teeth without even noticing it. A dentist can spot the warning signs and save you from costly damage.

Medication Assessment

Periodically, you may be required to take a new form of medication that can have a negative impact on your oral health. You will want to inform your dentist of this medication so as to properly assess any risks and take appropriate actions.

Gaps Between Teeth: What is Too Wide?

Teeth Gap

Different people have different mouths. Some people’s teeth are very close together, while others have sizeable gaps between their teeth. Occasionally, people will come to our Lynnwood dentistry clinic with concerns about the size of the gaps between their teeth: what is too wide, or what is too narrow?

The good news is that it is a myth that a wide gap between your teeth leads to cavities. In fact, when your teeth are far apart, they’re easier to clean and less likely to get food caught between them. Teeth that are particularly close together, by contrast, can be very difficult to floss effectively and may be slightly more susceptible to decay.

The concern you need to have when your teeth are separated by sizeable gaps is that this is probably a sign that your teeth are coming in crooked. You may have a weak bite, or one of your teeth may be crowding another. Consult your dentist about your own teeth, and whether or not it may be advisable to fit yourself with braces, bridge work, or another dental solution.

When an Object Gets Stuck Between Your Teeth

Every so often, you may get something stuck in between your teeth that is harder to get out than the average corn husk or piece of spinach. It’s a particular problem if you have a larger gap between some of your teeth where pieces of food could get lodged while eating.

This is a relatively simple dental problem to deal with, but it’s important that you do it right in order to avoid more significant issues. It can possibly cause further damage to your gums and teeth.

The mistake that many people will make is attempting to dislodge a stuck item with a sharp object. Unfortunately, such an object can be harmful to your mouth. Not only are you likely to irritate your sensitive gum tissues, but you also run the risk of scratching away some of the thin tooth enamel that protects the rest of your tooth from decay.

Contact Song Dental

If you have something stuck between your teeth that you cannot get out with ordinary floss, it may be necessary to call our Lynnwood dentistry clinic.

What to Expect After a Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Do you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted? Are you concerned about the procedure? After you get your wisdom teeth extracted, you will have to go through a brief recovery period. For most people, this period is going to be only a few days.

Healing Process Tips

During this time, you will want to take special measures to expedite the healing process:

  • Periodically bite down gently on a gauze pad to check for bleeding. If you’re still showing blood twenty-four hours after your operation, contact the dentist.
  • When you lie down, prop your head up. Lying flat can encourage bleeding.
  • Avoid sucking, as this can loosen your blood clot and cause bleeding. This includes sucking on a straw or a cigarette.
  • Favor soft foods, and gradually introduce solid foods as you recover.
  • Apply an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time in the first twenty-four hours. After that, switch to a warm washcloth for the next two or three days.
  • After the first twenty-four hours, rinse your mouth out with warm salt water a few times a day to help with any pain or swelling you may experience.
  • Take it easy; too much physical activity can cause bleeding.

Contact Song Dental in Lynnwood

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Song Dental. If you think you may need to remove your wisdom teeth, make an appointment with us for a consultation.

Can Composite Fillings Get Stained?

Our Lynnwood dentistry clinic offers composite, tooth-colored fillings for patients with cavities. These fillings offer the advantage of blending in with your natural tooth structure so that nobody, but your dentist knows that you’ve had restoration work done. Unfortunately, over time, these fillings can become stained so that they stand out on your tooth.

Teeth Whitening with Fillings

The bad news is that a composite filling does not respond to conventional bleaching agents the way your natural teeth will. Tooth whitener may only serve to enhance the contrast between your white tooth structure and the stained filling.

However, your dentist should be able to polish the surface of a badly stained filling until it matches your natural dentin again. Contact our Lynnwood Dentistry for more information.

Looking Out for Fractured Teeth

Sometimes a tooth can become fractured, which can result in serious decay and may eventually call for a root canal. Unfortunately, you may have a fractured tooth without even realizing it.

Possible Symptoms of a Fractured Tooth

Fractured teeth may feel perfectly natural to the touch, and possibly not exhibit any symptoms until they become infected. However, you can remain vigilant for a fractured tooth by looking out for the following signs:

  • Erratic pain that accompanies chewing.
  • Pain, swelling, or pocketing in the gums.
  • Pain that results from changes in temperature, particularly cold temperatures.
  • A rough or sharp feeling on one of your teeth.

If you think you may have a fractured tooth, it is important to bring it up to your dentist as soon as possible. Make an appointment at Song Dental before the damage can progress any further.

Does Tooth Whitening Harm My Teeth?

Tooth Whitening

A lot has been said about the use of bleaching agents on the enamel of your teeth. Some people are afraid that a tooth whitening treatment, like those offered by our Lynnwood dentistry clinic, might be breaking down the fragile minerals that protect you from cavities. Fortunately, a recent scientific study has shed some light on this issue that should serve to put your worries to rest.

According to researchers from the São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center in Brazil, in-office tooth whitening procedures do not have any effect on the concentration of calcium and phosphorus on the surface of a patient’s tooth enamel. These conclusions were drawn from a study wherein a number of people were subjected to different levels of bleaching gels, which showed no significant difference between those who had undergone bleaching and those who had not.

Consult with our Lynnwood Dentist

This only applies to professional whitening procedures, though, as certain home-whitening products proved to be a little more harmful. Further study is required on the topic but, until such study can be conducted, come to Song Dental Center for all of your whitening needs.