Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most fundamental rules of good health. Getting 7 to 8 hours every night not only rejuvenates you for tomorrow’s activities, but sleep is essential for a well functioning immune system! Improper sleeping habits can also affect your oral health, including grinding and jaw problems which can lead to severe issues down the road.
A good night's sleep is essential for your health!
When trying to understand your sleeping habits, it is essential to understand the difference between REM and non-REM sleep. REM, which is short for rapid eye movement, accounts for about 1/5 to 1/4 of a typical person’s total sleep in a night, and is characterized by a rapid flickering of the eyes, irregular breathing, major voluntary muscle paralysis and decrease in body temperature. It is high in brain activity and it is when most of our dreaming occurs. REM sleep is the fifth and last stage of sleep that occurs in the sleep cycle, which repeats itself about five times throughout a period of sleep. It is preceded by four stages of non-REM sleep. The 3rd and 4th stages of NREM sleep are the deep sleep stages, there is evidence that brain cells reset their sodium and potassium level during this deep sleep, and in fact the body repairs and regenerates tissues, builds bones and muscle, and strengthen the immune system during this stage!
Usually the deep sleep represented with Delta waves in brain activity are long, slow undulating waves. Certain frequencies in the Delta range trigger the release of Human Growth Hormone and are thus beneficial to healing and regeneration. Quality sleep by definition must include deep sleep, which is the deepest, first cycle of your sleep – synchronizing your sleep with your body’s natural sleep cycle will help you obtain better quality sleep. For most of people, going to bed before 11 PM would follow the body’s natural biological rhythms. Your body’s call for sleep is essential, we need it to stay healthy.
Bruxism (grinding and clenching your teeth during sleep) is brought up with the contraction of your jaw muscles, which most intensively happens at the 2nd NREM sleep cycle stage, moving in and out of the REM cycles. If you don’t go to bed on time every night, or your sleep pattern gets interrupted repeatedly, you will not be able to get into the restful stage 3 and stage 4 sleep that your body needs. You will end up getting more of the shallower stages of sleep, and going through more clenching and grinding. As we have learned, the consequences of excessive force bought up with clenching and grinding of the teeth can lead to excessive wear on our teeth, breaking up dental restorations, overloading the mouth’s supporting structure, gum recession and even TMJ symptoms, if these destructive forces are not properly managed. Of course, we should all work on establishing healthier lifestyles, and better rest. We can also work on better diet and cutting back on stimulants at night that can interrupt your sleep cycle. Having a custom-fitted nightguard made from your dentist might also be an idea worth exploring – consult with your dental professional, and stay healthy!
What do Olympic divers, your local swim instructor and you – if you’re a swimmer – all have in common? Apart from a love for the water, exercise and the sport, there is a common risk of developing dark yellow or brown stains on the teeth of all avid swimmers who spend at least six hours a week in the pool!
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has recently concluded a study on athletic swimmers who swim laps more than six hours a week, which has shown that exposure to chemically treated pool water can cause organic deposits to form on the teeth of these swimmers. Pool water is routinely treated with chemicals to keep the water clean for swimming, but these chemicals inadvertently raise a pool’s pH level to a level more basic than saliva (higher pH). By opening the mouth and exposing your teeth to pool water which contains antimicrobial chemicals, the water causes salivary proteins to break down and form deposits on teeth.
Why does this matter? Unfortunately, as deposits are formed on swimmer teeth, calculus buildup – hard, brown tartar deposits – appear predominantly on the front teeth and can be difficult to remove. Apart from keeping the mouth closed while swimming, avid swimmers should have their teeth professionally cleaned up to twice as often as non-swimmers (approximately four times a year). In addition to calculus deposits, the pool area can be a dangerous place for the mouth. When coming to the surface of a pool, rise gracefully! Many people hit their front teeth on a pool ledge, which can cause serious damage to the teeth and supporting jaw. Slippery pool decking can also cause falls which often chip , break or severly damage your teeth or mouth. Take precaution, be safe and healthy, but enjoy and have fun with swimming – it’s a great exercise and a lifetime sport that benefits the body and the whole person !
If you’re an athlete, you should wear a mouth guard. No matter what type of contact sport is at hand, sports-related dental injuries are extremely common, accounting for more than 600,000 emergency room visits each year alone! Chipped and broken teeth, jaw bone injuries and concussions to the brain are just a few of the many serious injuries athletes face which can be prevented with the use of a mouth guard. If you’re one of 4 million scuba diving enthusiasts, a good fitting mouth piece could prevent jaw joint pain, toothache or gum irritation when coming to the surface. For ultimate performance, a mouth guard will reposition the jaw to properly open the airway and increase the oxygen intake, which can be very beneficial for athletes who posses deep bite issues.
Always wear a mouth guard during sports!
Besides preventing sports injuries [and other benefits of wearing a properly fitted mouth guard], one should look into other aspects of the mouth guard. In particular, the proper cleaning and storing of your mouth guard will prevent it from growing harmful bacteria and mold which could be life-threatening. Noted in a recent dental publication in the September/October 2007 issue of General Dentistry, mouth guards “harbor large numbers of bacteria, yeasts and molds that can possibly lead to life and/or health-threatening infectious/inflammatory diseases.”
The material used in mouth guard construction is not completely solid – like most plastics, the surface of a mouth guard is porous, and can harbor microscopic bacteria if not cleaned and stored properly. If these tiny organisms are allowed to grow and multiply, the mouth guard which is meant to protect you could actually be harming your teeth, gums and bodily health.
To assure a clean and properly functioning mouth guard, both your mouth and the mouth guard should be clean before wearing it. Be sure not to share guards between team members. Once you are finished with the mouth guard, brush it with toothpaste and rinse it under running water. Once the guard has been properly cleaned, store it in an open air container – a sealed space will promote bacterial growth.
Getting your mouth guard over the counter might work for some of you, but it would be best to bring it into your dentist’s office and have it checked for a proper fit – you may need to have a custom piece made. A poorly fitting mouth guard is useless, and your health is invaluable.
Most people are well aware of soda’s detrimental effects on the teeth (including erosion and bone loss) – but it also is addictive?
The allure of diet soda is obvious for people who are conscious about their figure: it tastes great, it’s refreshing, and has few or no calories. Unfortunately, most of us don’t realize how dangerous the other ingredients in soda really are, even with no sugar. Many diet cola drinkers have a false sense of security that their diets will be successful drinking diet soda, and actually consume more calories because of it. Putting aside the acidic problems with soda and the havoc they wreak on your teeth, gum and bone, let’s look at the caffeine aspect of cola. All dark colas are full of artificial chemicals which can degrade your skin and internal organs over time, but those which are caffeinated present an addictive factor as well. Caffeine addiction can make a person feel downright ill if they don’t receive their “soda fix” – muscle pains, headaches and nervousness are common among soda addicts, and are known as symptomatic withdrawal. Even though withdrawal symptoms are most commonly associated with tobacco and hard drugs, caffeine falls into the addictive drug category as well. Johns Hopkins University, the authoritative leader on mental disorders in the medical world recognized “Caffeine Withdrawal” as an official disorder in 2004. Symptoms usually occur within 12 – 24 hours of halting caffeine intake, and can last for days.
In addition to the caffeine addiction problem with all soda, recent studies have shown that drinking even just one soda a day can raise a person’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 48%. Metabolic syndrome drastically increases the likelihood for heart disease and diabetes. Phosphoric acid found in any dark cola is another leading contributor to bone loss among soda drinkers. Combined with the high withdraw rates of caffeine addiction and the problems associated with caffeine withdraw (disturbed eating and sleeping patterns, anxiety and restlessness), drinking even moderate amounts of soda in a day-to-day routine can produce drastically negative effects on a person’s health. This does not even address the detrimental effects of cola acidity on oral health.
In North America, a continent in which 80 – 90% of all adults drink some form of caffeine on a regular basis, this epidemic of sorts has reached maximum capacity. Save your body and your mind – kick the soda habit! You will feel more rested and relaxed throughout your day, your concentration ability will increase and you will be doing a great service to your osteo (bone) and oral health. Drinking diet soda does not guarantee your diet will be successful, and in the long run, will in fact make your body’s health deteriorate. If you must drink diet cola, be sure to drink in moderation! Small amounts, 8oz or less, only once a day! Think about the chemicals and caffeine in the cola you drink, you might think twice!
“Doc, can I have more Novocaine? I don’t feel very numb.” Of course, it is nice to feel numb before dental surgeries! Have you ever been in a situation in which you had difficulty getting numb?
Local anesthetic is effective in most situations, however approximately 15% of dental patients experience a partial or total lack of numbness after receiving anesthesia injections. This phenomenon usually occurs in the lower jaw, when mandibular bone is too dense for infiltrated anesthetic injections to take, unlike the upper jaw which can receive the anesthetic solution easily. The dental nerve within the lower jaw is essentially buried within the dense bone itself, so it requires a mandibular block injection for proper numbing (numbing which includes the teeth, tongue and lips in the same quadrant).
Variations in the anatomy of the “entry window location” (where the mandibular injection deposits its solution) makes it difficult for some people to receive proper numbing, even when the dentist follows the usual landmarks – don’t blame the dentist right away if your anesthesia doesn’t work! The physiology of each individual varies besides the anatomy, which will lead to different thresholds or reactions to various dental injections. Different dental injection solutions also gives different numbing effects – your dental professional should choose what is most applicable to your situation, usually epinephrine (the blood vessel constrictor) is added to give a better local numbing effect.
Speedy injections or anxious patients can cause a racy heart beat, which could be very uncomfortable. If you’ve had too many cups of coffee or if your blood sugar is low from having not eaten, you may feel uncomfortable after receive the dental injection. The wine from last night can also alter the effectiveness of the numbing. This all makes anesthesia a very delicate science. The technique of the operator (the dental professional) can occasionally be at fault for improper anesthesia, but more likely than not it is a complication with a patient variable. It is important for you to communicate with your dental professionals if you’ve had a history of difficulty with dental anesthetics.
Special oral local anesthetic techniques, such as intraosseous anesthesia, which can enhance deep pulpal anesthesia, may help to increase the numbing sensation. This process injects novocaine directly into the bone marrow – because the needle penetrates the hard cortex of the bone, it penetrates to the jaw’s deepest level and can adequately numb the site. It is important to remember that every mouth can be anesthetized, however because intraosseous anesthesia is considered a specialized procedure, it is important to find a dental professional who is experienced with such techniques.
” May I have some laughing gas please?” is a popular request among the “high anxiety” or “wants to get away” group.
A patient is anesthetized with nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide gas (nitrous oxide and oxygen (N20-02)) is affectionately known as “laughing gas” due to its euphoric qualities when inhaled. Discovered in 1772 by Humphrey Davy, he had this to say about its effects: “On the day when the inflammation was the most troublesome, I breathed three large doses of nitrous oxide. The pain always diminished after the first four or five inspirations; the thrilling came on as usual, and uneasiness was for a few minutes swallowed up in pleasure.” When the gas is inhaled (at an approximately 50% nitrous oxide + 50% oxygen dilution), after several minutes nearly all pain dissipates from the body and a euphoric warmth spreads throughout the body. This pleasant feeling is not only pain-reducing, but can calm anxious nerves and relax all but the most fearsome patients. The calming, relaxing and euphoric qualities of nitrous oxide make it a prime candidate for anesthetizing patients who have irrational fears about dental procedures who are unable to get comfortable in the chair. Because laughing gas can be highly effective in treating moderate dental anxieties, nitrous oxide gas can also benefit the dental physician working on a patient – calm environments benefit everyone! Patients with high blood pressure, or who have had heart attacks in the past and are at risk from traditional IV anesthesia are prime candidates for nitrous oxide sedation.
The level of sedation and warmth felt in the body after inhaling nitrous oxide gas depends on the concentration of the dosage, and how long the gas is administered. Because the gas is administered into the lungs, it is saturated into the blood stream very quickly and once the procedure is finished, there are no lingering “hangover” effects, meaning it is safe to drive home without an escort. Local anesthesia is still necessary for the treatment site, but needle-phobia will disappear with laughing gas. If you suffer from dental anxieties and have tried different techniques, seen different dentist and you still can not face dental work with ease, it is worth while for you to try nitrous oxide during your next dental procedure. Have a discussion with your dental professional.
Have you ever felt sick, taken some Pepto Bismol and then a while later, had a black tongue? You may be thinking you’ve eaten something strange, or that you are having an allergic reaction! This is actually not a rare side effect of Pepto Bismol however – read on to find out why your tongue is black!
Black Tongue is harmless.
Numerous brands of nausea medication, including Pepto Bismol, have an active ingredient called Bismuth subsalicylate, a multi compound drug useful in treating nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. In a tablet form, Bismuth subsalicylate is meant to be swallowed with water – however, when exposed to the surface of your tongue (from chewing), the drug will often turn the tongue black after several hours, and can last several days. A black tongue and black stools in some users of the drug is not harmful, but the color is produced as a side effect of the drug interacting with saliva and the gastrointestinal tract.
The good news is this discoloration has no adverse affect on your health; there is nothing to worry about if your tongue has gone black or if it is staining your teeth with black strips after taking Pepto Bismol. The stain can be removed easily by thorough brushing or seek help from your dental professional. If a thorough brushing was followed after taking the Pepto Bismo, the staining issue would be eliminated. You must be aware of your body if you have a upset stomach in the first place; getting a good assessment and managing the root of the problem rather than just masking the symptoms should be the overall, long-term goal. Maintain a healthy diet, full of fruit, vegetables and lean proteins to control the PH of your body (which should be neutral or mild alkaline). Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night will ease and equip your body to deal with the stress. If you do have an upset stomach, have a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea with honey on me, which will help with your upset stomach. We can all work on respecting our body and mind to take better care of ourselves.
Got an itchy nose when you are in the dental chair? Have you felt itchy and red on your cheeks when you last visited your dental professional? You might be hypersensitive or have latex allergies. The reactions are most likely from powdered latex gloves. In recent years, latex allergies have become much more predominant in health care provider offices, meaning people must be aware and knowledgeable about how their bodies react to such materials.
Latex is derived from the Rubber Tree.
Natural rubber latex products (like powdered latex gloves) come from rubber trees located throughout South America and elsewhere. This naturally occurring product contains proteins which are the primary source of allergens. There are different types of adverse reactions that occur with latex gloves: the most common is irritant contact dermatitis, which is not an actual allergy, but a skin reaction to the detergent, additives or powders that cover most latex gloves (usually your skin will appear red, dry and cracked). If it is allergic contact dermatitis, you can get a skin rash after a few hours and up to 48 hours after contact. The non-contact exposure to airborne particles when removing the gloves can cause signs and symptoms similar to those of hay fever or asthma. An actual latex allergy is a systemic allergic reaction which is caused by IgE antibodies in the blood to the proteins in natural latex. The response is immediate, such as itching, redness, swelling, sneezing and wheezing; the most serious reactions can be a life threatening and result in anaphylactic shock .
If you do have a latex allergy , be sure to communicate with your health provider, because there are alternatives. Because health care providers are repeatedly exposed to latex quite frequently, they are at a higher risk factor of developing latex allergies – as many as 17% of all health care providers are estimated to have latex allergies. Also, the allergy-causing proteins in latex are found in foods (such as avocado, banana, chestnut, kiwi and passion fruit) – so you might be allergic both latex and some related food.
There is no cure for a latex allergy, although medications are available to reduce the symptoms of latex allergies like antihistamines. If a severe reaction occurs, you will need an emergency injection of adrenaline (epinephrine). For those prone to anaphylaxis, an epi-pen should be carried at all times. The best treatment is prevention, avoid all products that contain latex and ask for advise from your doctor who might be able to suggest ways you can avoid latex in your daily life. Keep identification on you that clearly alerts others of any allergies you have, choose alternative products, and inform your health care professional of any developments.
“Dr. Sun, can you check why I taste metal in my mouth? I have no metal fillings; I checked on line, and I’m afraid I might have a cavity or gum infection!” So, I checked, and the oral department was cleared.
” Your mouth is healthy, tell me what has changed in your life?”
” I lost my job, I’ve been taking anti depressants and Ambien for sleep, but I had a physical exam that was fine.”
“Have you been good to yourself, healthy diet, taking supplements, exercising and proactive on job hunting?”
“Ha! Funny, Dr. Sun, I was going to ask you for a job! I exercise, but not eating well and maybe drinking more.”
“Well, keep yourself in the best condition. The metallic taste has lot to do with the medications you are taking; poor diet and alcohol intake don’t help either. My advise to you is be positive, count your blessings, treat yourself right, maintain a healthy diet, cut down on alcohol and keep up your good oral hygiene. You may rinse your mouth with warm salt water or rinse with warm water with added baking soda (1/4 teaspoon to 8 oz warm water) to neutralize the taste. Also talk to your physician about this, see whether GERD or other gastrointestinal issues play a role.”
It is common to get the funny taste in your mouth (dysgeusia), it might taste metallic, acidic or bitter, it usually goes away on its own, but if is lasts more than two weeks, consult with your health care professional.
Dysgeusia is related to a multitude of adverse health conditions. It is a sign of imbalanced body chemistry, associated with changes of your physical, mental or oral condition: medication and diet also are contributing factors. Starting with the mouth, make sure there is no caries, infection or poor oral hygiene. Think about whether you are taking prescription medications to treat hypertension and anxiety, (like lithium) antibiotics, antidepressant or others which may cause the metallic taste. The last would be possible physical illness likes cancer, a peptic ulcer, food allergies, or excessive metal elements (iron, copper, iodine, mercury, selenium, lead) in your body. Effects of radiation therapy may also cause dysgeusia.
Get a good assessment of the condition, then improve your health and feel better. Apart from consulting with your health care professional, do your part of eating right. Keep up good and clean habits, including oral hygiene, balanced stress level and a positive life outlook. You can also try brushing / scraping the tongue, rinsing with herbal mouth wash (like Tooth & Gum tonic), or swishing with warm salt water or baking soda rinse to neutralize the metallic taste.
Respite with Chardonnay, sip the stress away! It’s carefree time. On the other side of the coin, white wine can also make your cosmetic dentist frown for your dulling smile. We are talking about the tooth stain effect from white wine – what’s that, you ask? White wine stains your teeth? You probably are already aware that certain foods can cause staining and discoloration to your teeth – but many foods or beverages without a strong or dark color (which look innocent) can still cause stains on your teeth.
White wine can stain your teeth - just like red wine!
A new NYU study shows white wine has an acid content that tends to increase the risk of stain or darkening of your teeth, if combined with other habits of drinking tea, or similar dark beverages. Do not be fooled by the crystal clear appearance of a white wine – it certainly is capable of dulling your teeth. Certain acidic properties present in wine (white, red or rose) create micro-porosity etching rough the surface of your teeth, which make your teeth much more susceptible to stains from other foods. For example, if you were to drink a glass of white wine with your spaghetti dinner, the acidic properties in the white wine could make your teeth more prone to staining from the red spaghetti sauce in your meal, or the cup of tea after the dinner beside your wine! Red wine is still more “dangerous” to the pearly opalescence of your teeth than white, however, as it contains pigment molecules known as chromagen, which will stain your teeth., but all wines contain tannins act as a binding protein, which will aid chromogen to saturate themselves upon the surface of the tooth.
Sodas and other beverages like ice tea and cocktails can wreak havoc upon your teeth as well, and not just the color! Stringent acids or sugars (turned into acids) present in most sodas (and acidic fruit juice, like lemonade) are the worst type of liquid to expose your teeth to, and can cause tooth erosion and tooth decay. A bleaching effect of phosphoric acid in the soda can also weaken your bone in addition to their staining properties. If you must drink any of these liquids, be sure to brush and floss after every meal – or at the very least, rinse your mouth or have a glass of water. Do not allow your oral environment stay in an acid bath! If you can feel astringency or drying of the mouth, drink some water and rinse your mouth before brushing to prevent rubbing the acid into your teeth.
Please enjoy your glass of wine, just be wise about the consequences! Yes, we can still keep your healthy and clean looking smile if we keep up the good oral hygiene habits. You can always consult with your dental professional for tips.
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and even TMJ 
