During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxismBruxism is excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching. It is an oral parafunctional activity; i.e., it is unrelated to normal function such as eating or talking. Bruxism is a common behavior; reports of prevalence range from 8% to 31% in the general population.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bruxism
It is important to let the dentist know if you experience any level of dental anxiety. Open discussion around the individual triggers of anxiety can help the dentist work with you to tailor a management plan for you. Some psychological coping techniques include: deep breathing.
Stress can make you clench and grind your teeth anytime of the day, without you even realizing it. Your dentist will be able to see signs of clenching and teeth grinding during your examination. If you already clench or grind your teeth when you're not stressed, this can make the habit worse.
The incidence of tooth staining is also lower in those who vape compared to those who smoke cigarettes due to the absence of tar and ash in e-liquids - though it is worth mentioning that nicotine, when exposed to oxygen, turns a light shade of yellow, indicating there is still potential for staining with long-term use ...
There are many conditions we can identify during a visual examination of your oral cavity, even if you don't know you suffer from them. This includes mental health problems such as depression. Recent studies suggest that depression conclude depression is closely related to poor oral health.
The answer is a resounding YES! If feeling stressed or anxious causes you to develop bruxism, over time the regular grinding and clenching of your teeth and the subsequent pressure on them could cause them to alter position slightly.
Chronic stress can cause the nervous system to act erratically, causing phantom pain anywhere on or in the body, including the mouth, jaw, teeth, ears, and sinuses. Elevated cortisol, the body's most powerful stress hormone, has been shown to cause gingivitis, which can cause pain in the mouth and teeth.
Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), that you can take one hour before a scheduled dental visit. Your dentist may also recommend conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”), which can help calm nerves.
With oral conscious sedation, your dentist gives you sedative medication (usually in pill form) about an hour before your procedure begins. Most dentists use triazolam (Halcion®), which is in the diazepam (Valium®) family. But your dentist might use other medications, too, including zaleplon and lorazepam.
Tips to Overcome Your Embarrassment of Going to the Dentist
Communicate your concerns. Explain to your dentist why you're embarrassed before your visit. Sharing your concerns with the dentist and dental staff will help them adapt their treatment to your needs and put you at ease while you're in the chair.
Crying. Crying or feeling the desire to cry is extremely common when you are experiencing high levels of anxiety. Pay attention to your emotions when you are thinking about a visit to the dental office.
Sipping on soda or snacking frequently can all be culprits of an increase in cavities. A sore throat or the flu: Sucking on cough drops all day long are a common culprit of cavities that people don't know about. Not enough brushing and flossing: This one goes without saying. Below is the proper brushing technique.
People with dentophobia, also called odontophobia, have a fear of dentists. Someone with dentophobia may have extreme anxiety at the thought of going to the dentist or while in the dentist's office.
Emotional stress or panic
Teeth grinding, known as bruxism, is a common symptom of stress, anxiety, and panic. This kind of teeth grinding can result in teeth chattering as well.
Similarly to flossing, your dental team will also be able to tell if you don't brush your teeth often enough or even if you brush too hard. Those who don't brush the recommended two times a day will often have larger areas of tartar buildup and puffy, red gums.
Many patients try to hide that they smoke, but it is impossible to be covert in front of a dentist. Nothing goes unnoticed under the scrutiny of a trained dental practitioner, and the light yellow stains below the teeth and gums are no exception.
This is because tobacco use affects the saliva in your mouth, leading to greater plaque and tartar buildup. If your dentist notices an unusual amount of tartar buildup along with some of the other effects of smoking, they'll have a good idea that you're a smoker. Smoking doesn't just affect your teeth.
Smoking impacts your teeth and gums in several ways. These impacts can be quickly identified by your dentist. So, yes, your dentist will know if you smoke. Among the telltale signs include yellow teeth, plaque, receding gums, and more.
Telling the Truth Provides Your Dentist With Important Information. The most important reason to tell your dentist the truth is that it will help them make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. It lets your dentist know your starting point so they can adjust their suggestions.
But it is a myth that dental cleaning will damage teeth. In fact, the harm caused by not going to the dentist for regular cleanings far outweighs the dangers of the procedure itself.