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Why Are Visits To The Dentist So Important?

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Twice A Year

We’ll make you comfortable.

There’s a major reason why the American Dental Association, and your dentist, recommend that you come in for a cleaning/exam every six months. Regular dental visits are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. If you need additional help, we may even suggest you come in and see us even more frequently, until we can get your issue under control. In addition, in-between your exams, it’s important for you to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as you can.

What To Expect

Cleanings don’t hurt, so there’s no need to be nervous.

At a typical checkup and cleaning appointment, we’ll perform an examination of your mouth, teeth, and gums. Dr. Burba will be looking for any signs of gum disease, loose, broken or cracked teeth, a damaged filling, or tooth decay. He will also look for any signs of oral cancer.

Once a year you’ll need X-rays taken, and if you’ve been experiencing any pain– we’ll examine your head and neck, your bite, and the movement of your jaw.

Finally, we clean, polish, and floss your teeth– leaving them fresh and beautiful.

Benefits

Taking care of your oral health means taking care of your overall health.

There’s a number of benefits that come along with seeing us regularly. Since there’s a strong correlation between your oral health and your overall health, taking good care of your mouth means taking care of your entire body.

For example, gum disease can increase your risk of serious health problems including heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes– just to name a few.

Deep Cleaning

We clean the places you can’t reach with just a toothbrush and floss.

You might think you don’t need regular cleanings, but we have specifically designed tools to clean your teeth much better than you’re able to at home. During your cleaning, we’ll remove plaque from hard to reach areas, and get rid of any buildup that has occurred since your last cleaning.

Prevent Gum Disease

We can catch gum disease before it spreads.

Regular visits to see us can help to prevent the onset of gum disease. Gum disease doesn’t just harm your oral health– it can affect your entire body. One of the biggest reasons you might develop periodontal disease, is by neglecting your oral health, and missing dental visits. The good news is, even if you’re more susceptible to gum disease than others– we can usually help you prevent it through regular cleanings and proper oral hygiene.

Detect Oral Cancer

Your visits could be life saving.

By seeing us twice a year, you’re giving yourself the best shot at catching the early warning signs of oral cancer. If we do detect any symptoms of the disease, we’ll recommend you begin treatment immediately to improve your chances of beating it quicker. If oral cancer is detected early, it’s curable.

Save Money

Regular check-ups save you time and money in the future.

In addition to their health benefits, regular checkups can even be good for your wallet. Finding and treating minor problems like cavities, can spare you the expense of future complicated procedures including extractions, crowns, or root canals.

Cure Side Effects

Knocking out one problem can fix another.

Sometimes dental problems have side effects, and Dr. Burba will be able to correct more than one issue at a time. For example, bacteria in your mouth can not only cause tooth decay, but it’s also responsible for bad breath. Conquering tooth decay will help you get rid of your mouth odor as well.

Make An Appointment

Don’t forget to schedule a cleaning every 6 months!

By visiting us twice a year, and practicing good oral hygiene daily, you’ll keep your teeth and gums healthy, and prevent diseases.

If it’s been over six months since your last appointment, request one today!

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

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What Is Oral Cancer?

Educate yourself and help stop the spread of oral cancer.

Oral cancer, a.k.a cancer of the mouth and upper throat, kills about one person every hour of every day of the year. Of the people that are newly diagnosed, about 40 percent won’t survive longer than five years. In addition, those who do survive can suffer long-term problems, such as severe facial disfigurement or difficulties eating and speaking. The death rate associated with oral cancers is particularly high since the cancer is often discovered late in its development.

Why Do We Have Oral Cancer Awareness Month?

Because the death rate is so high, it’s important we dedicate an entire month to educating the public about the risks. Oral Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated in April, and it’s a national screening campaign to end oral cancer. Awareness in the American public is low, and without education– the problem won’t get any better.

The purpose of the campaign is to remind everyone that regular cancer exams by your dentist, remain the best method to detect oral cancer in its early stages. The Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Oral Medicine, the American Dental Association, and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, just to name a few– have all joined the Oral Cancer Foundation in its campaign to educate the public about knowing the risks.

Risks

Being aware of the symptoms and risk factors of oral and oropharyngeal cancer– along with early detection and treatment, may be the key to a complete recovery. There are a number of things that contribute to the onset of oral cancer, but the top three are tobacco, alcohol and HPV.

Tobacco

Tobacco can wreak havoc on your mouth.

Cigarette smoking puts you at a higher risk for developing mouth cancer, since tobacco smoke contains chemicals that have been proven to contribute to oral and esophageal cancer.

Alcohol

Avoid alcohol for a healthy mouth.

All forms of alcohol can cause or contribute to mouth cancer. Alcohol, particularly when used in addition to tobacco, has been recognized as an important risk factor for almost 50 years.

HPV

Young people are increasingly at risk for oral cancer due to HPV.

Finally, genital HPV, also known as the human papilloma virus, is a very common sexually transmitted disease. It usually causes no symptoms and goes away by itself, but it can cause serious illnesses, including oral cancer. In fact, HPV is responsible for approximately 60% of all oral cancers.

As a result, the fastest growing demographic of oral cancer patients is young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals. If you have HPV, you’re 30 times more likely to develop oral cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Knowing the signs and symptoms of this terrible disease can help with early detection, and ultimately save lives. The following are all signs you could have oral cancer:

-A white or red patch in your mouth.

-A feeling that something is caught in your throat.

-Difficulty chewing or swallowing.

-A sore, irritation, lump or thick patch in your mouth, lip, or throat.

-Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw.

-Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth.

-Swelling of your jaw.

-Pain in one ear without hearing loss.

If you have any of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks, you need to see us for an exam right away. Usually, these symptoms don’t mean cancer, but you need be sure. An infection or other problem can cause the same symptoms– but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Get Checked

We can’t stop this virus from spreading, but we do hope to save lives with professional involvement and public awareness. While the death toll is high, when cancers are detected and treated early, mortality and treatment related health problems are greatly reduced.

If you’ve never never had an oral cancer examination, there’s no better time to schedule one than this month. When you do, be sure to ask that this examination be made a routine part of all of your future dental check-ups. Make your appointment today!

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

Sugar and Your Teeth

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Sugar, Sugar

We know it’s tasty, but it hurts your pearly whites.

Everyone knows eating too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, but many aren’t exactly aware of how and why it happens. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in your mouth that uses sugar from foods and drinks to produce acids that dissolve and do damage to your teeth. Each acid attack lasts for around 20 minutes, but the good news is– it’s avoidable.

What Are The Effects?

According to the American Dental Association, your mouth is full of hundreds of bacteria. Some are helpful, but others can actually feed on the sugars you eat, and create acids that destroy your enamel. Tooth enamel is the shiny, protective outer layer of your teeth that keeps them healthy. Cavities are a bacterial infection created by acids that cause a hole in your teeth. Without proper treatment, cavities can progress past the enamel and into the deeper layers of your tooth, causing pain and even eventual tooth loss.

Avoid Sugary Drinks

That’s a lot of sugar for one drink!

 

Sugary drinks, including fruit drinks, sports drinks, sweetened waters, sugary teas, energy drinks, and sodas, have been recognized as the primary source of added sugars in American diets. Sugary drinks don’t make you feel full, so you eat the same amount of food as before– but with a lot of extra sugar calories on the side.

When you have a craving for one of these drinks, try choosing a healthy alternative, like water, milk, or 100% fruit juice with no added sugars.

The Remedy

To avoid having a mouth filled with cavities, we have several tips to prevent them.

Stimulate Saliva Flow

Make sure it’s sugar free!

In addition to cutting down on sugar, stimulating saliva flow is recommended. Chewing sugarless gum, and incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet that are high in fiber, are great ways to accomplish this. Cheese, yogurt and other dairy products also contain calcium and phosphates that strengthen your teeth, and they’re much better choices than something high in sugar or starch.

Brush and Floss

Always brush after you eat or drink something with lots of sugar.

It’s important that you stay on top of your oral health by brushing and flossing twice a day. It’s even more crucial to brush after you consume sugar. Whenever you eat or drink something sweet, make sure you brush your teeth right when you’re finished. However, if whatever you have is acidic– wait at least a half hour before brushing or flossing.

Use Fluoride

Let fluoride do the work for you.

According to The American Dental Association, you should be using an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is a mineral that has been proven to not only prevent tooth decay caused by too much sugar, but also reverses it in its early stages. The ADA also recommends professional fluoride treatments from a dentist.

In addition, you should try and introduce tap water into your routine. Fluoride is added to your tap water source and it doesn’t affect the appearance, smell or taste of your drinking water, but it does give you the benefit of helping to prevent cavities.

Finally, rinse your brush off before you add your toothpaste to avoid washing away the added fluoride.

Stay On Top Of It

Vigilance is the key to preventing the negative effects of sugar on your teeth. Limit your sugar intake, and always brush after eating anything with a high sugar content. Choose healthy foods and drinks that strengthen, instead of damage your teeth. Include regular appointments to see us and you’ll keep your teeth healthy and strong for a lifetime.

 

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

15 Fun Facts About Your Teeth

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 Teeth
They are strange little things
Always biting
Leaving their crescent, jagged mark
Everywhere
Tough bone, made to last
They say a smile on your face
Is the most beautiful accessory
A person can have
But no perfect smiles are without
Teeth

Our teeth are wonderful, fascinating things! Their main purpose is chewing, or breaking down items of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digestion.

Let’s take a look at 15 facts about your pearly whites that you might be surprised to hear!

#1

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Are you one of them?

#2

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Wow! That’s why you have to be so careful with them.

#3

Our ancestors had to improvise.

Our ancestors had to improvise.

#4

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You should have all of your adult chompers by your teenage years.

#5

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Flossing your teeth does all of that? Who knew?

#6

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That’s a lot of missing teeth! Be aware of your surroundings.

 

#7

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Healthy teeth require a lot of toothpaste!

#8

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Make sure it’s always sugar-free! Sugary gum is terrible for your teeth and makes you much more prone to cavities.

#9

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Among these are 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars (including 4 wisdom). Most people have their full adult set by the time they reach their teenage years.

#10

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They’re already there, they’re just waiting to pop through.

#11

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If this happens, put it in milk and get to us immediately.

#12

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Did you know?

#13

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Even harder than our bones.

#14

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This is an eye opening statistic. Make sure you’re bringing your child in for their first appointment, by their first birthday.

#15

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Now You Know

We hope you’ve learned something about how wonderful your pearly whites really are, and how important it is to take care of them. If it’s been over 6 months since you’ve come to see us, make your appointment today.

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

Mistakes To Avoid When Brushing Your Teeth

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“I Know How To Brush My Teeth.”

Your entire family can follow these simples steps to healthier teeth.

Your entire family can benefit from these tips.

You might think you’re doing everything right. After all, brushing your teeth isn’t exactly hard. What you don’t know is, unless you’ve been shown the proper way to brush– you’re probably doing it wrong. In fact, most people aren’t caring for their teeth properly.

Are you making any of the following mistakes?

Brushing too hard.

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Brushing too hard is something a lot of people are guilty of. When it comes to your teeth, rough is not better. A soft massage of the gums and teeth is enough to effectively clean them without damaging your enamel.

Brushing too long/too frequent.

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Just like brushing too hard, you also don’t want to overdo the time you spend on cleaning your teeth. You should only brush twice a day, for two minutes. Doing it any more frequent than that will harm your teeth and wear away the enamel.

Side note: this does not apply if you have braces. They require more frequent cleaning.

Not brushing long enough.

On the flip side, make sure you brush at least twice a day for two minutes. Research shows the average time people spend brushing their teeth is only 45 seconds. Not enough! Anything shorter than that won’t give the fluoride in your toothpaste enough time to attach to the enamel on your teeth.

Not replacing your toothbrush.

If you’re healthy, every three months– or 200 uses, is a good time frame to replace your brush. However, if you’re sick, it needs to be replaced as soon as you’re feeling well again. If not, your toothbrush can actually reinfect you at a later date.

Also, remember the phrase “if it starts to fray, throw it away”. If this occurs before your three months is up, replace your brush right away. Frayed bristles won’t clean your mouth properly.

Always have a few back up brushes stashed away for when that time comes.

Forgetting to clean your tongue.

Don't forget your tongue!

Don’t forget your tongue!

Your tongue is not something you should be ignoring when you brush your teeth. In fact, you should reprogram your brain to think of brushing your teeth as actually brushing your teeth, tongue and gums. All three need to be cleaned for optimal oral health.

Your tongue is a virtual petri dish for germs. If you don’t clean it, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. Expect bad breath, and bacteria build up. We recommend a tongue scraper if your brush tickles your tongue, or you don’t like the feeling.

Using the wrong technique.

If your gums are bleeding after brushing and flossing, you may have gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.

Are you brushing your teeth the correct way?

The correct way to brush your teeth is in circles, and not back and forth. A circular motion is more gentle and effective at cleaning your teeth.

Side to side wide strokes can scrape the soft tissue lining between your teeth and gums, causing them harm.

Finally, be sure to tilt your brush at a 45-degree angle and brush close to the gum.

Flossing after brushing.

Always floss before you brush.

Always floss before you brush.

Lots of people make this mistake. You brush your teeth and then you floss. So, what’s the problem? You’re doing it in the wrong order. Always floss before you brush. If you don’t, you risk leaving leftover particles of food in your mouth. In addition, flossing before brushing exposes areas that need the fluoride in your toothpaste.

Just Ask!

Come see us twice a year.

If you’d like us to show you the proper way to brush and floss, next time you’re in our office, just ask and we’ll be glad to demonstrate.

If you change your dental hygiene habits, we promise you’ll notice a difference. You’ll see your teeth will be stronger and healthier than ever before.

Most importantly, don’t forget to schedule regular cleanings with us every six months.

 

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

5 Steps to Fresher Breath

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Woman covering mouth

Does your breath stink?

Are you constantly worried your breath is bad?

Afraid to get too close to someone, in case your mouth stinks?

You have one chance to make a first impression, we’ll make sure it’s a good one.

It’s to get bad breath–unfortunately. It’s not always easy to get rid of.

What’s causing your bad breath

To fix the problem, we first need to figure out the cause.

Bad breath is caused by bacteria that breed inside your mouth. This bacteria spreads and multiplies, finally breaking down to proteins which cause an odor to be released from the back of your tongue and throat. Yuck!

Let’s fix it

Here are a few of our favorite tips for keeping bad breath at bay.

1) Brush after every meal

Food for thought: Your food supply is also the bacteria’s food supply.

Leaving food particles in your mouth causes plaque, which leads to bad breath. When you floss and brush after every meal, these bacteria will no longer thrive.

2) Clean your tongue

The surface of your tongue is rough and home to a potentially gross smelling combination of dead cells, food debris and bacteria.

Brush your tongue with your toothbrush, or—even better—buy a tongue scrubber. A tongue scrubber is a small device designed to scrape the surface of the tongue. This eliminates even more bacteria.

3) Schedule regular appointments

One of the most common causes of bad breath is not scheduling regular dental appointments. This seems to get overlooked because, as we know, time flies. Our main priorities might not be our dental appointments–even if that practice is detrimental to your dental and overall health.

The professional cleaning process removes tartar from the teeth–which if left untreated could lead to periodontal disease–and identifies any infected areas potentially causing bad breath. Not only will you notice a difference, but your friends and family will too.

4) Wet your whistle

Chewing sugar free gum can help to eliminate bad the bacteria that causes bad breath.

Chewing sugar-free gum can help to eliminate the bacteria that causes bad breath.

When combating bad breath, keeping your mouth wet is important. Saliva contains oxygen, and oxygen deters bacteria growth. Saliva is naturally anti-bacterial and helps to wash away bacteria.

Another way to eliminate the bacteria that cause stinky breath is to chew sugar-free gum. If none is available, sugar-free, non-sticky candy works well too.

5) Know your food

You may not realize it, but the foods you eat make an impact on your breath. We’ve all been too close to someone who’s just polished off a tuna sandwhich. Run. Run far, far away.

Even red meat can cause bad breath. Meat easily gets stuck between your teeth, breeding bad breath bacteria.

You’re not alone

Bad breath affects around 80 percent of people around the world. Some, chronically.

Don’t be known as the guy with dragon breath. Follow these tips and schedule regular cleanings every six months. If you do, we guarantee you will notice a favorable change.

 

Changing Lives, One Smile at a Time

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

7 Simple Tips For Healthy Teeth

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Healthy teen mouth with beautiful white teeth

Keep your teeth clean and healthy.

Besides brushing and flossing, what can I do at home to keep my teeth healthy and clean?

We get the question every day.

There are things you can do–along with regular cleanings every six months–to keep your smile sparkly white.

Soft bristles

Probably our most ignored piece of advice. People think harder is better. But that’s not the case when it comes to brushing your teeth.

Using a soft bristled brush will remove the same amount of debris without causing trauma to your teeth and gums.

Replace your tooth brushe after being sick

Don't forget to replace your brush.

Don’t forget to replace your brush.

This one is self explanatory.

Your toothbrush is a virtual petri dish, harboring bacteria that lay dormant. Infecting you at a later date. YUCK!

Remember to replace your toothbrush after you’re sick to prevent reinfection.

Chew sugar freegum

It has to be sugar free because sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay. The bacteria that form together to become plaque use sugar as a form of energy. This leads to dreadful cavities and avoidable dental visits.

Chewing sugar free gum provides a number a benefits. Wash away plaque and acid leading to healthier–and whiter–teeth.

Brush with baking soda

If you’re not familiar with baking soda as a substitute for tooth paste, you should be.

Brushing with baking soda has huge benefits. Baking soda releases free radicals that combine with stains to break them down.  It also helps to freshen your breath and remove plaque.

Flossing–the CORRECT way

Chances are that even if you think you know how, if you haven’t been taught, you’re doing it incorrectly.

When you floss, make sure you;re using a zig-zag motion. Contour the floss around the side of your tooth, and always use a clean section of floss. Watch this video for even more tips.

9-1-1

Accidents happen.

If your tooth gets knocked out, put it in milk and hold it in your mouth until you can get to us.  This will help your tooth survive longer.  Contact us as soon as it happens.

Oh no!

Oh no!

Floss before you brush

Many people brush first and floss later.

This isn’t efficient. Flossing before brushing exposes areas that need the fluoride in your toothpaste. It also ensures you’ll get out all the debris prior to brushing. Flossing before you brush will improve your overall oral health and appearance of your teeth.

Keep it up

There are many ways you can keep your teeth healthy, besides brushing, but the best way is to visit us ever six months.

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Changing Lives, One Smile at a Time

Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

National Children’s Dental Health Month isn’t over yet!

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Flash us that toothy grin before National Children's Dental Health Month ends!

Flash us that toothy grin before National Children’s Dental Health Month ends!

February’s rapidly coming to a close.  Luckily, this year the month has an extra added day – Feb. 29!

You may be asking, “Why is it lucky that this happens to be a leap year?” We think it’s lucky because February marks one of our favorite observances –National Children’s Dental Health Month!

National Children’s Dental Health Month provides dental professionals, health care providers and educators an opportunity to spread the word out about how he important good oral health can be through a special educational outreach targeted to the kids themselves, as well as parents, teachers and caregivers.

Why is it important?

Consider this – the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says more than 50 percent of children will be affected by tooth decay before age 5. If that doesn’t get your attention, keep in mind tooth decay is the most common childhood disease.

You may be surprised to learn that it isn’t even close – tooth decay is 20 times more common than diabetes, seven times more common than hay fever and five times more common than asthma!

To make matters worse, the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation reports that dental care is the most prevalent unmet health need of children in the US, with an estimated 17 million children going without dental care every year.

Tooth decay can also be the cause of other issues. Its pain and the infections that often accompany it can lead to problems eating, speaking and learning.

Preventing tooth decay before it starts

One of the primary goals behind National Children’s Dental Health Month is to educate everyone on preventing tooth decay before it starts.  That includes making sure everyone understands the basics. One of those basics is ensuring kids aren’t rushing when brushing their teeth.

How long is long enough? Both kids and adults need to brush at least two minutes twice a day.

This doesn’t have to be a tedious chore that everyone dreads.  A fun way to ensure they’re brushing long enough is to pick a lengthy song they can hum to themselves while brushing. The rules are simple – they’re not done brushing until the song is.

Parents also play a key role just by being parents.  When kids notice their parents brushing and flossing daily, they’ll be quick to model that behavior themselves.

Good First Step

While the month may be ending, it’s not too late to take ensure your kids have healthy teeth. A great way to start is to have them come see us for a visit!  This will most likely include a thorough cleaning, a full dental examination and a set of x-rays.  This will be a good base to start from. From there we’ll want to see them at least twice a year to make sure they stay on the right path toward a lifetime of good oral health!

Tricky Halloween Candy to Avoid and Treats to Enjoy

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Happy Halloween Everyone!

Your candy bowl is full and you’re ready for tiny ghosts and goblins to appear at your door, jack-o-lantern buckets at the ready. It’s nearly impossible to avoid sugar at Halloween, so we’ve come up with a few ideas to save your teeth in other ways.

Gooey…gummy…taffy…

You know what we mean, the kind that sticks to your teeth while you wonder if it’ll EVER come off.

Just say no to the Hot Tamales, Swedish Fish, and Laffy Taffy…especially if your child has braces. These cavity-causing, sticky, delicious treats wreak havoc on orthodontic work—keep their brackets attached.

Stick to avoiding lollipops

Bright colored rock candy on a stick. Suckers with bubble gum inside.

What child can resist these tempting treats?!? Adding a stick to any food doubles the fun—corn dog anyone? And, triples the cavities—try not to let that much sugar sit in your mouth for long periods of time.

Sour candy

Who can deny the cute faces and amazing hair of the Sour Patch Kids.

The acid in sour candy is extremely hard on your tooth enamel. Saliva helps to restore the natural balance of the acid, but you’ll make its job harder, when you’re adding sticking power to this.

Out with the bad…in with the good

If it feels like we’re taking all of the fun out of trick-or-treating, rest assured, we’ve got some suggestions.

Of course, anything sugar-free is great. Sugar-free hard candies can help to stimulate your saliva and prevent dry mouth. Chewing sugar free gum after meals prevents cavities by aiding in removing food particles between teeth left behind to cause decay.

If you’re looking for something more sinister, dark chocolate is your new best friend. Not only is it delectable, its antioxidant properties will keep your heart healthy enough to withstand the evening’s frights.

Dark chocolate delights your taste buds and your dentist.

Dark chocolate delights your taste buds and your dentist.

In addition to keeping your teeth safe, we encourage all our trick-or-treaters to stay safe out there.

Taking a Bite out of Stress

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It’s widely known that stress takes a toll on our bodies, but what effect does stress have specifically on your oral health?

In addition to the many ways stress affects our entire body, the teeth, mouth, jaw, and gums can be seriously affected. Understanding how stress affects the mouth is an important way to proactively head off these potential problems by keeping our stress level low and to bring awareness to the fact we are stressed even if we don’t realize it by knowing what signs to look for in the mouth.

Focusing on lowering your stress in general is going to be helpful in many ways, particularly for your mouth.  Here are some conditions to watch for that can be related to stress.

Mouth Sores

Canker Sores

Although it is not known exactly what causes canker sores, there is agreement that stress can make a person more likely to struggle with them. These small white spots show up in the mouth, sometimes in pairs or larger numbers, and can cause a lot more discomfort than their small size would indicate. When you have canker sores present, try limiting spicy food or highly acidic foods in general to keep pain to a minimum. Most canker sore usually lasts 7 – 10 days.

Cold Sore

Caused by the presence of the herpes simplex virus, cold sores or fever blisters appear on or near the lips. It isn’t possible to know when a cold sore will appear but many believe that stress or highly emotional times can trigger a sore to appear. Like canker sores, cold sores usually last 7 – 10 days, but unlike canker sores, cold sores can be spread and therefor treatment and precautions should be taken.

Grinding/Clenching

Clenching or grinding the teeth is known as bruxism and is believed to be due to stress. People struggling with bruxism may not even be aware of what they are doing. By definition, clenching occurs when you press your upper and lower teeth tightly together and grinding happens when you rub your teeth back and forth against each other.

After an extended period of time of clenching or grinding, people may experience jaw pain, jaw popping, earaches, headaches which can be due to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint connects your skull to your lower jaw. TMJ pain can become severe and may even eventually damage the joint to the degree that surgery is required to repair it.

The goal is to stop the bruxism before it becomes a severe problem. Often your dentist will see broken teeth or teeth that have been ground down due to grinding. A nightguard may be recommended to help keep the teeth from pressing together while sleeping and relaxation techniques will be encouraged for minimizing clenching during the day.

Missed Brushing & Flossing

During times of high stress it can be easy for the standard oral care habits to drop off or be overlooked. A person may also find they are eating or drinking in ways that are less optimal for oral health as well. The trick is that putting your oral health in jeopardy due to your stress can cause additional mouth problems that will require attention and potentially cause new reason for stress. Keeping your healthy habits in tact is an important part of getting through the stressful time. Focusing on the positive feelings that come from taking care of ourselves can help motivate you to stay committed to your program.

Ultimately your stress level plays a role in many aspects of your health and your mouth is not exception.  Finding ways to lower your stress level and reminding yourself of the importance of self care at all times will help you avoid these conditions. It is important to always talk with your dentist if you see early signs of these conditions and share any relevant information about your stress level.

Changing Lives, One Smile at a Time

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an AACD accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, MA. He considers himself an artist – with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking. Follow Burba Dental Partners on Twitter and Facebook.