Dental Care Following a Stroke

A stroke is a serious matter, one which has long-lasting implications for your health. Unfortunately, some people can overlook the effects that a stroke can have on your oral health. If you recently suffered a stroke, be mindful of the following problems that you may encounter:

First of all, your daily oral hygiene routine may suffer. With a compromised strength in your grip and a decreased manual dexterity, the simple act of brushing and flossing can turn into an ordeal. In some of the less severe cases, you may simply need to wrap a washcloth or some similar padding around your brush to get a better grip. Others may benefit from an electric toothbrush, or a special flossing tool.

When it comes time to visit your dentist again, be sure to inform us of any medication you may be taking. Some of the medication taken by patients who recently had a stroke have negative implications, particularly anticoagulants. As these drugs encourage excessive bleeding, special care may need to be taken during certain dental treatments.

Finally, if you are struggling with memory loss, consider having your dentist write down your instructions after your visits.

Do Wide Gaps Between Teeth Lead to Tooth Decay?

It is a common misconception that, if you have a wide gap between two teeth, you are more susceptible to tooth decay. This is technically not true. Since it is actually easier to clean between teeth that have a bit more of a gap between them, you may actually find that you are less likely to develop cavities in the area of this gap. However, there are some concerns when it comes to teeth that are a little too far apart.

Unfortunately, if two teeth have a particularly wide gap between them, it probably means that at least one of them is crooked. It is probably crowding another tooth, making it more difficult to clean and leaving you more vulnerable to decay. Meanwhile, you may have a weaker bite, and your jawbone structure is being compromised while other teeth drift into the gap.

Should the gap between your teeth be a problem, you may be a candidate for orthodontic work, bridgework, or some kind of implant. Talk to our Issaquah dentist to learn more about your options.

Bruxism & Social Anxiety

Dentists have known for some time now that stress is a big contributing factor to tooth grinding, or bruxism. As social anxiety generally causes stress in social situations, it can naturally be concluded that people struggling with social anxiety are more prone to bruxism.

To further understand this relationship, a group at Tel Aviv University studied a group of seventy-five participants. These participants were men and women in their early thirties, forty of which experience social phobia, about half of which were on medication for their problem. These participants underwent an oral and psychiatry examination. Researchers found that there was moderate-to-severe wear on the teeth of 42.1% of the group with social phobia, and only 28.6% of the control group. Meanwhile, 32.5% of the first group exhibited jaw play, as opposed to only 12.1% of the control group. Waking bruxism was observed in 42.5% of the first group, and a mere 3% of the control group.

Indeed, it would appear that social interaction is a major trigger for bruxism in people struggling with social anxiety. To find out more about how you can protect your teeth and overcome tooth grinding, talk to Meadow Creek Dental in Issaquah.

Your Genetics and Your Oral Health

Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth is a good way to help assure that you will continue to have a strong and healthy set of teeth and gums well into old age. However, despite our best efforts, some people will always have an easier time with their oral health than others. Indeed, there are various aspects of your health that hinge largely on your genetics, including the following:

If you have a family history of gingivitis, it may be that you have a genetic disposition for this disease.
Though teeth can come in crooked due to environmental factors, many people have crooked teeth due to their genetics. If you have a family history of braces, you may need to wear braces as well.
Some people are born with clotting problems or other bleeding disorders. Such conditions pose a problem for your dental treatments.
Some people are genetically disposed to diabetes, which has unfortunate implications on your oral health.

Should you struggle with any of these genetic problems, talk to our Issaquah dentist so that we can tailor your treatments appropriately.

Is Your Tea Giving You Cancer?

Many health-minded individuals drink tea for its numerous proven benefits. A good tea promises to reduce your stress, purge toxins from your body, and decrease your risk of various diseases. Knowing this, it can come as a surprise that this same tea may also be inviting esophageal cancer upon you.

Researchers took a look at a number of patients being treated for esophageal cancer, finding that many of them reported regularly drinking more than a litre of hot black tea. Apparently, the high temperature of the beverage can do unfortunate damage to your delicate throat tissues, increasing your risk of developing malignant growths. Drinking your tea at above sixty five degrees puts you at a significantly greater risk, while teas heated up above seventy degrees are even worse.

Knowing this, it is a simple matter to avoid the increased risk brought on by your tea-drinking habit. Simply allow your tea to sit for at least four minutes after you’ve finished boiling the water, after which it should fall safely below the sixty degree level. This, coupled with regular check-ups with our Issaquah dentist, will do wonders to help prevent cancer in your mouth or throat.

The Effects of Heart Health on your Dental Care

A heart attack is a difficult thing to go through, one which will have long-lasting implications on your health and the way you take care of yourself. Your oral health is no exception. After your heart attack, be sure to take the following precautions to get the most of your care without risking any further damage:

First of all, it is generally a good idea to wait a minimum of six months after a heart attack before undergoing any serious dental treatments. Your body may not yet be strong enough to deal with the anxiety commonly associated with dental procedures. Further, if your doctor has prescribed you with medication to treat your heart, this medication may not react well with your treatment; some of these encourage bleeding, which can be dangerous in any invasive procedure.

When you are once again ready to return to our Issaquah dentist, give us a list of any medications you are taking, and their dosages. You may also benefit from giving us the contact information for your doctor, in case you have any further heart-related problems during your visit.

Are There Harmful Substances in Your Toothpaste?

Many people don’t give too much thought as to what’s in their toothpaste. Aside from the fluoride content, there is very little to interest the average brusher. However, there are certain ingredients found in trace amounts in many common pastes that may have unfortunate implications. In small amounts, they are likely entirely harmless, but with over seven hundred brushings every year, these substances can build up. Some of the ingredients to look out for include the following:

Blue Dye No. 2: It has been suggested that this artificial color can be attributed to the development in learning and behavioral issues in children.
Hydrated Silica: This substance is an abrasive, which is an important part of a toothpaste. However, this abrasive is particularly strong and can break down your enamel over time.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Some people find this substance irritating, and it has been known to cause or irritate canker sores.
30: The Environmental Protection Agency does not yet understand the effects of this substance, and further study is required.

Holiday Stress and Your Teeth

December is one of the most stressful times of year for many people. Either you’re anxious over your preparations for vacation and the winter holidays, or the gloomy feel of the season encourages depression. Unfortunately, the additional stress you are feeling takes its toll on your oral health. Too much stress can cause your gums to recede and impair your mouth’s ability to fight infections. Some people start grinding their teeth, which wears down their enamel, while others even develop painful oral sores. Therefore, it’s important to find ways to manage your stress.

Careful planning is a good way to start. Some of us are guilty of biting off more than we can chew, which never ends well. Try being mindful of your limitations, and don’t commit to too much. There are likely people in your life that you can count on for help; identify these people early on, and share tasks where appropriate.

Whatever happens, don’t let yourself slack off on your normal brushing and flossing. In addition to its normal benefits, there is comfort to be derived from maintaining your usual, daily habits. This will help you control your stress, and get the best out of your oral care.

Green Tea Can Protect Your Teeth

Many people drink green tea for its strong health benefits. It’s packed with antioxidants, combating damage to your cells and encouraging a youthful, vibrant appearance. If you’re a fan of this classic tea, the news just keeps getting better: Green tea has also been linked to valuable benefits to your oral health.

In a scientific study, a group of people between the age of forty and sixty-four who were in the habit of drinking a cup of green tea every day were found to be 19% less likely to have lost teeth to dental problems. This can be attributed to the warm fluid rinsing out the mouth, combined with antimicrobial catechins in the tea itself.

Oolong tea was determined to have a similar, weaker effect. Mixing green tea with sugar was determined to counteract its positive effect. Coffee apparently has no positive effect on your mouth, while sweetened coffees are downright detrimental.

To learn more about how to foster healthy teeth in your daily routine, contact our dentist’s office in Issaquah.

Do I Have a Problem if I Bite My Cheeks?

Biting down on the inside of your cheek is never a pleasant experience. These are very vulnerable tissues, easily prone to aggravation. If you find yourself doing it fairly frequently, it’s not uncommon to start worrying that there may be something wrong with your mouth. So, when should you bring your cheek-biting to the attention of your dentist?

In truth, excessive cheek-biting is probably not the result of any serious problem. Even people with perfectly straight, perfectly healthy teeth are going to have the occasional misstep, and the swelling that results makes it all the more likely that you’re going to do it again in the near future and further aggravate your injury. This results in a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break out of.

When you bite down on your cheek hard enough to damage the tissues, try being mindful of the area for a while. Take care while you chew and allow the area to heal. If your situation is particularly troublesome, an orthodontic wax or similar protective product may be in order. Talk to your dentist to learn more.