Avoid The Daily Grind Or Risk Permanent Tooth Damage

Each April, dental and health care professionals across the country join forces during National Stress Awareness Month to educate people about the physical effects of stress. For dentists like Dr. Ukti Phadnis, there is a particular responsibility to help patients understand the damage caused by nightly teeth grinding or bruxism.

“Untreated bruxism can result in the fracturing, chipping or complete loss of your natural teeth,” warns Dr. Phadnis, owner of Wethersfield Dental Group. “However, teeth grinding is just one symptom of bruxism. The other is chronic jaw clenching that can also affect your jaw joint (the TMJ), resulting in clicking or popping, hearing problems, or even changes to your facial features.”

Dr. Phadnis notes that while it can happen any time of day, bruxism often occurs at night, causing an individual to wake up with any number of symptoms including jaw pain, headaches, and sore teeth that may even feel loose.

To alleviate the symptoms of bruxism wearing a custom night guard while sleeping is frequently recommended. This appliance is designed to fit over the teeth to keep the jaws slightly apart. Wearing a night guard prevents a number of damaging events including muscle strain, excessive pressure on the jaw joint and dental damage resulting from the teeth rubbing against each other.

“Although, stress and anxiety are the most common causes of bruxism there may be other contributing factors,” explained Dr. Phadnis. “It’s crucial to see a dentist who can identify an abnormal bite, poor alignment, or a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or snoring that may require additional treatment.”

Bruxism is just one way that stress can have an adverse affect on oral health. Other problems that Dr Phadnis wants patients to be aware of include:

· Gum Disease – When the body is under constant stress, it’s unable to fight off bacteria, increasing the chances of gum disease that can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease.

· Dry Mouth – Stress may make a person more likely to breathe through their mouth, creating dryer conditions that can cause cavities. Drinking water regularly and using a mouth rinse designed for dry mouth can help.

· Mouth Ulcers – People with long-term bruxism may experience mouth ulcers or canker sores more often. Research shows stress alone is also a major risk factor when it comes to developing canker sores.

“Although good oral hygiene can significantly reduce your risk of gum disease, it would be better to find ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life,” said Dr. Phadnis.

One way that Wethersfield Dental Group can relieve financial stress is to offer new patients with no dental Insurance a $49 special for exam, x-rays and cancer screening (Reg. $267). The practice also offers an affordable in-house Discount Dental Plan to ensure that every family can take care of their teeth. In addition to routine dental care, services include restorative crowns & veneers, bridges, root canals, implant dentistry, dentures and Invisalign.

Wethersfield Dental Group is a full service dental, cosmetic and restorative practice. Dr. Ukti G. Phadnis, DMD strives to deliver quality dental care through patient education and preventative care for the whole family. The practice accepts most forms of insurance. The office is located at 55 Town Line Rd Suite 100 in Wethersfield. Walk-ins welcome. Office hours are 9:00AM-5:30PM Monday-Friday. Visit us online atwethersfielddentalgroup.com or call (860) 400-3007.