Stress and Your Teeth



Last week it was reported that actress Demi Moore had lost her two front teeth because of stress. Experts have said that the number one cause of tooth loss is gum disease, of which stress can be a factor. Here are 7 other ways stress could be taking it's toll on your teeth..

1. Translucent teeth
"If you notice that your teeth are becoming translucent or getting shorter this may be due to Bruxism (grinding) of the teeth. You should see your dentist as you may need a bite guard to protect the teeth from wearing further."

2. Achy jaw
"If you feel an ache or clicking in your jaw joint this may be a sign of stress. Seek advice from your dentist and you may need a treatment for the jaw, such as a special splint or even Botox to relax the muscle."

3. Bleeding gums
"If you notice your gums are bleeding more this can be a sign of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), which can be caused or exacerbated by stress. See your dentist and you may need some gum treatment such as deep cleaning (root planing) under the gums."

4. Dental abscesses
"Dental abscesses can be caused as during times of stress your body can be unable to fight of gum infections. Seek advice from your dentist and you may need antibiotics or further treatment for this."

5. Root canal problems
Root canal problems can be caused by stress if the grinding becomes so severe that the nerves of the teeth are exposed. Root canal treatment may then be needed to remove the nerve from the teeth.

6. Bad breath
Bad breath can be a sign of stress. Stomach acids can build during times of stress and lead to reflux and other compounds that causes bad breath. You will need to see your GP for this and may need treatment with antacids or other medication. This may even require further investigation of the stomach lining."

7. Cheek biting
"Cheek biting is a sign of stress. For some people this is a habit that is developed to cope with stress. Acupuncture or hypnosis are some of the treatments that can be used to help relax and prevent this.

8. Shortened teeth
Shortening of teeth is a symptom of bruxism (tooth grinding). This most often occurs at night called “sleep bruxism”. Sleep bruxism has also been associated with Obstructive sleep apnea. It can also occur in the daytime during times of increased stress.

9. Broken teeth and broken fillings
Clenching of teeth at night or in the daytime  will bend teeth and fracture them and any fillings in them. This can lead to the need for fillings, crowns, root canals, and tooth loss over time if not corrected.

815 459 2202

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Stress and your teeth  at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

drneal.com

Autism Tests on Baby Teeth Promising

Autism and high lead. low zinc, and manganese

New test to identify babies with autism identify heavy traces of lead and lack of zinc and manganese...

Laser detection of metals

A new study may have found a way to isolate genetics from environmental contributors to autism, allowing researchers to focus on the link between heavy metal levels and autism risk. The research was led by Manish Arora, PhD, an environmental scientist and dentist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, NY, and the findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Such studies have had to approximate the toxic metal exposure based on the metal concentrations in the bloodstream. However, this estimation was done after the children had already been diagnosed with ASD, rather than before.

Previous studies were not able to account for genetic factors that may have influenced the results; generally, separating environmental factors from genetic ones in the development of autism is challenging for researchers.

The method used in this new study manages to bypass many of these limitations. By looking at naturally shed baby teeth, the researchers explain, they have access to information that goes as far back as a baby’s prenatal life. And by studying twins, Prof Arora and colleagues were able to separate genetic influences from environmental ones.

To determine how much metal the babies’ bodies contained before and after birth, the researchers used lasers to analyse the growth rings on the babies’ teeth.

Laser technology allowed the scientists to accurately extract specific layers of dentine, which is the substance that lies beneath the tooth enamel.

In much the same way that we can tell the age of a tree by looking at the growth rings in a cross-section of its trunk, the scientists were able to see different developmental stages correspond to different rings by looking at a cross-section of the babies’ teeth.

This correspondence between growth dentine layers, their levels of lead, and the exposure to lead during different developmental stages, has been previously demonstrated by Prof Arora and team in research they carried out previously.

Cindy Lawler, PhD, head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Genes, Environment, and Health Branch, explains the importance of using this scientific method for studying autism:

“We think autism begins very early, most likely in the womb, and research suggests that our environment can increase a child’s risk. But by the time children are diagnosed at age 3 or 4, it’s hard to go back and know what the moms were exposed to. With baby teeth, we can actually do that.”

The study revealed that children with ASD had much higher levels of lead throughout their development.

The greatest difference between lead levels in children with ASD and children without was noticed during the period after birth.

Zinc levels, on the other hand, displayed a more complex pattern. During the prenatal period, children with ASD had lower levels of zinc, but after birth, these levels increased to higher levels than those found in children without ASD.

Finally, manganese was found to correlate with ASD as well. Children with ASD seemed to have less manganese than children without, both pre- and postnatally.

Overall, the study suggests that either prenatal exposure to heavy metals, or the body’s ability to process them, may influence the chances of developing autism.

“A lot of studies have compared current lead levels in kids that are already diagnosed,” Lawler says. “[But] being able to measure something the children were exposed to long before diagnosis is a major advantage.”

David Balshaw, PhD, head of the NIEHS Exposure, Response, and Technology Branch, also weighs in on the scientific method used for this study, saying, “There is growing excitement about the potential of baby teeth as a rich record of a child’s early life exposure to both helpful and harmful factors in the environment.”

Prof Arora called the method “a window into our fetal life.” He and his colleagues note, however, that more large-scale studies are needed to replicate and confirm their findings.

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815 459 2202

 Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Gum Recession at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

drneal.com