Mental Health Archives - Eggert Family Dentistry Blog

Smile Through Stress: Managing Mental Well-being for Better Oral Health

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Did you know that stress can affect your oral health?

Stress is, unfortunately, part of all of our lives. And while most people are aware of the effect stress can have on their physical health, often the link between stress and oral health isn’t as clear.

And yet stress can have a significant impact on your oral health. The effects of chronic stress can show up in your mouth, teeth, gums, and jaws as gum disease, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and more. Understanding how stress can affect your oral health is essential to maintaining a healthy smile.

Here, we’ll explore the effects of stress on oral health along with some practical strategies to manage stress and support your smile.

Stress and Oral Health: Unraveling the Connection

Learning to recognize the conditions caused or worsened by stress is vital to timely intervention. Chronic stress can lead to a number of oral health problems, including:

Bruxism: The Grind Behind Stress

Stress can cause tension in your jaw, which can lead to bruxism. Bruxism is a condition where you unconsciously grind or clench your teeth. Many people with this problem are unaware of it as it happens most often while they are sleeping, however, it can even happen during the day without conscious awareness of it.

Because the force exerted while clenching or grinding is often much more than that exerted while chewing, it can result in significantly worn-down teeth, jaw pain, headaches, damage to dental restorations, and in many cases, even fractures.

If you think you may be grinding or clenching your teeth, talk with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert in North Oaks, MN about obtaining a custom-fitted night guard to help protect your teeth from stress-related wear and tear.

Gum Disease: Stressing Out Your Gums

Stress can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and your gums more susceptible to inflammation and gum disease. Gum inflammation, bleeding, tenderness, and periodontal disease are more likely when you are under chronic stress.

If you notice your gums are red or swollen or that they bleed when you brush or floss, make an appointment with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert right away as bleeding in the gums is a sure sign of unwanted inflammation

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ): Stressing Over Your Jaw

TMD (or more commonly called “TMJ”) is a disorder affecting the jaw joint, causing symptoms like jaw pain, stiffness, clicking or popping, and difficulty opening or closing the mouth. Chronic stress can cause you to clench your teeth and jaw, which can stress the temporomandibular joints, leading to TMD. Lack of sleep due to stress can further exacerbate this issue.

If you notice any signs of TMD, speak with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert at Eggert Family Dentistry. Similar to bruxism, we may recommend an appliance to ease your jaw discomfort and protect your joints from wear.

Canker Sores: Stress Taking Its Toll Inside Your Mouth

Stress can also bring on canker sores inside your mouth, which can cause pain and discomfort. Canker sores are small round ulcers in your mouth, often found on the inside of your cheeks and lips or on your tongue and gums.

While these sores typically go away on their own, it’s helpful to understand what causes them and how to mitigate your discomfort while they heal. While the specific cause of canker sores is still unknown, there does seem to be a strong link between canker sores and stress.

If you experience canker sores, you can help manage your discomfort by:

Swishing a warm salt water solution around your mouth multiple times per day (8 oz warm water and 1 tsp salt)
Drinking cold liquids through a straw
Eating soft foods
Avoiding sugary, salty, spicy, acidic, or very hot foods
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush when brushing your teeth

When you are under significant stress, it can be tempting to neglect your regular oral hygiene routine. But maintaining routine brushing, flossing, and dental visits with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert is vital to maintain the health of your teeth and gums.

Managing Stress to Preserve Oral Health

In addition to maintaining a consistent oral health regimen, implementing some or all of the following healthy habits can help improve your body’s resilience to stress and support your oral health.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water. Maintaining adequate hydration helps support saliva production and overall oral health.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in your daily diet. Limit sugary treats, caffeine, and alcohol — too much of these can exacerbate stress and negatively impact your oral health.

Get Regular Exercise

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, a natural stress reliever. Being active also helps promote better sleep, which aids in stress management and benefits your physical and dental health.

Prioritize Quality Sleep

Stick to a regular sleeping schedule to ensure adequate sleep. Establish a bedtime routine that helps you relax and ease tension in your jaw. This could include a jaw massage, gentle stretching, deep breathing techniques, or aromatherapy.

Implement Stress-Relief Techniques

Stress-relief techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, a warm bath, and yoga can help you unwind, relax your jaw, and lower overall stress levels. Experiment with a variety of stress-relief techniques to find the ones that work best for you.

Ask for Help

If stress feels overwhelming or becomes chronic, consider seeking professional support from a therapist or counselor who specializes in stress and anxiety management. Having someone to talk through stressful feelings with can be immensely beneficial to your mental and physical health (including your oral health!).

Stress and oral health are inextricably linked. Taking the time and energy to invest in your physical, mental, and emotional well-being leads to improved health and happiness, and a reduced likelihood of developing stress-related oral health issues.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we know your mental health affects your oral health and we believe they are equally important components of overall wellness. If you’re concerned your oral health is being compromised by stress or anxiety, we recommend making an appointment with your primary physician as well as with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert at 651.482.8412. We’re always here to help!

Take Charge of Your Dental Health in 2024!

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to focus more on your dental health? If not, it’s never too late to make it a priority! If you focus on keeping your teeth and gums healthy, your overall well-being (and your wallet) will thank you.

So how can you improve your dental health this year? Well, a healthy smile goes beyond just brushing and flossing — it also involves regular dental check-ups and “recare” visits. Let’s take a look at why improving your dental health should be high on your list, various ways you can improve your oral health, and some examples of easy dental resolutions you can follow in 2024.

The Link Between Dental Health and Overall Health

As the new year unfolds, many of us make resolutions to lead healthier lives, the classic resolution being to hit the gym. And while many think exercise and nutrition are the end-all-be-all of health, the truth is that our body’s wellbeing is a result of many interconnected systems, each affecting the other. Your dental health, for example, can impact various aspects of your overall health, including cardiovascular health, respiratory health, and even mental health.

Oral health’s impact on the heart: Study after study has shown that people who have poor oral health (such as gum disease or tooth loss) have higher rates of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke than people with good oral health. Researchers have proposed many theories as to why this connection exists, including bacteria from the mouth traveling through blood vessels, inflammation causing an immune response, or the correlating factor of smoking cigarettes. Whatever the cause, the relationship between oral health and cardiovascular health has been demonstrated many times over.

Oral health’s impact on the lungs: According to research, oral health directly impacts incidences and outcomes of lung diseases, such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a healthy person, the lungs are usually able to fight off any bacteria that would accumulate in the mouth and travel through the respiratory system. However, when a person’s lungs are compromised by a pre-existing respiratory condition, the lung’s immune response is weaker. This makes it easier for bacteria that accumulates in an unclean mouth to travel to the lungs and cause infections.

Oral health’s impact on mental health: Studies since the COVID 19 pandemic have shown that mental health and oral health are correlated, with associations demonstrated between mental health problems and tooth loss, periodontal disease, and tooth decay. Dental decay and tooth loss can lead to more frequent pain, which often increases social isolation, and feelings of low self-esteem. All of this results in a lower quality of life, which often leads to poorer mental health.

Poor oral hygiene can have a domino effect on multiple systems of the body. By resolving to improve your dental health in 2024, you’re not just preserving your smile – you’re protecting the wellbeing of your entire body.

The Importance of Regular Recare Visits

Most people understand that brushing twice and flossing once daily are the pinnacles of good oral health. However, it’s equally important to schedule regular dental appointments, also known as recare visits — it is important to realize that these visits are much more than “just a cleaning.” It is essential to be committed to them and never skip out! When scheduled regularly, these appointments play a key part in preventing and detecting dental problems early on.

When you schedule a recare appointment with Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert can make sure that small problems like gingivitis and cavities don’t escalate into more significant (and expensive) issues, such as periodontal disease and tooth loss. When you come in for your appointment, not only will you get a professional teeth cleaning, but you’ll also receive a thorough check-up to ensure the health of your mouth and the quality of any dental restorations/devices such as fillings, crowns, dentures, or veneers.

Questions? Call Eggert Family Dentistry

Your smile is an essential part of your overall health, and when you prioritize your dental health, you’re investing in a lifetime of well-being. Call Eggert Family Dentistry at 651.482.8412 to schedule your recare appointment today or to ask any questions you have about dental health. Make 2024 the year you take charge of the health of your smile – your future self will thank you!

How to Deal with Dental Anxieties

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

What Is Dental Anxiety and How Do You Know if You Have It?

According to the Dental Research Journal, as many as 14% of people struggle with dental phobia, and even more people have less severe dental anxieties. The cause of dental anxieties varies by person, but the irrational fears and feelings of terror are present among many people.

Signs and Symptoms of Dental Anxieties

Many people with dental anxieties dread doing to the dentist. They may avoid scheduling routine dental appointments, or they may skip appointments that they’ve already scheduled. Other signs of dental anxieties can include:

Sweating
Racing heart or heart palpitations
Low blood pressure
Fainting
Visible distress or crying
Using humor or aggression to mask fears

How Eggert Family Dentistry Helps Reduce Dental Anxieties

To help all our clients feel as comfortable as possible, we offer a variety of ways to help during your appointment:

Music: Many people feel more comfortable when they’re listening to their favorite music. If you’ll more comfortable with headphones on, please do it. Our team can work around headphones for routine cleanings and most procedures. We ask that you bring your own headphones and music device.
Cable TV: We have cable TVs available in every procedure room. Watch your favorite shows while our team works on your teeth.
Calming techniques: Deep breathing and visualization can help ease your nerves. Not sure what to do? Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff, and their assistants, Tracy and Heather, can coach you through some mental exercises to help bring you peace.
Hand signals: For some people, the hardest part of a dentist appointment is feeling like they can’t communicate when their mouths are full of other people’s hands. Raising your left hand during your appointment lets us know that you need a break.
Communication: Sometimes, talking about your fears and having them validated is enough to help you feel at ease. Our team is here to listen to your concerns and explain any procedures that are making you nervous.
Medicine: In many situations, these calming techniques are enough to help patients get through their appointments comfortably. However, if you have dental phobia, we also have laughing gas (also called nitrous oxide gas) available and in worst case scenarios, we can talk about some prescriptions that may help.

How to Manage Dental Anxieties

Many of the calming techniques listed above can help people work through their dental anxieties enough to get through their appointments. Some people have also found relief by using therapy techniques. If you have headphones on during your dentist appointment, listening to a meditation, guided imagery, or progressive muscle relationship can also help lower your heart rate and help you feel more comfortable. There are many apps available for this. Finally, a few short, targeted sessions of cognitive behavior therapy can help people permanently overcome their dental anxieties.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Elizabeth, Dr. Jeff, and our whole dental team will take the time to listen to your concerns, and we’ll work together to help you feel as comfortable as possible. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, contact our office at 651-482-8412.

Eating Disorders and Dental Health

By Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

No one asks for an eating disorder. To even recognize and acknowledge one’s eating disorder is inherently challenging. Unfortunately, eating disorders have a lot of negative consequences, including on dental health.

There are two main ways in which eating disorders can have a negative effect on your teeth.

Nutritional Impact of Eating Disorders

First, eating disorders commonly go hand in hand with poor nutrition. People with eating disorders may severely restrict their consumption of food, or may obsessively avoid certain foods. In both cases, nutrition deficiencies can result.

These nutrients are particularly critical to dental health:

Iron: Iron is essential for transporting oxygen throughout the body. When a person’s red blood cell count drops, they are less equipped to fight infections. Low iron can cause mouth ulcers and fissures in the corners of the mouth.
Calcium: Calcium deficiency may cause teeth to loosen and even fall out. Inadequate calcium contributes to tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, your body will respond to low calcium intake by drawing it from both your bones and teeth. A healthy set of teeth depends on a strong and healthy jawbone. Low iron contributes to bone loss.
Vitamin D: Your body depends on vitamin D to help absorb calcium, and it also helps combat gum disease. As an anti-inflammatory, it boosts your immune system so you can fight infections better. Low vitamin D contributes to bone loss.
Niacin: A shortage of B3 (niacin) can cause bad breath and canker sores.

Corrosive Impact of Eating Disorders

The binge eating associated with some eating disorders can cause excess stomach acid. When that acid backs up into the esophagus, it results in reflux or heartburn. Should the stomach acid reach the mouth, it will deteriorate both oral tissues and teeth.

For some people, binge eating is followed by vomiting, which also introduces harsh acid stomach acids into the mouth. This wears away tooth enamel, which increases the risk of tooth decay while also increasing tooth sensitivity. When tooth enamel is softened by acid, brushing the teeth can actually further damage the enamel.

Both vomiting and poor nutrition can make the salivary glands decrease production. The resulting chronic dry mouth also increases acidity which increases risk of tooth loss, cavities, and infections in the mouth.

Minimizing Dental Damage from Eating Disorders

If you have an eating disorder, please have the courage to seek professional help. In addition, you can take these steps to protect your teeth.

Try gum, mints and toothpaste containing xylitol. This sugar substitute helps with saliva production, preventing dry mouth and cavities. You can also get a mouth guard that can reduce the effects of stomach acid on your teeth and get routine fluoride treatments to strengthen tooth enamel.

After vomiting, always rinse your mouth with tap water, and wait awhile before you brush your teeth.

Eating disorders are a tremendous challenge, and Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff have nothing but compassion for anyone on that journey. If you are dealing with one, we encourage you to take the best care you can of your teeth. We are here for you.

Four Fun Facts About Smiling: Great Reasons to Smile More

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

As your dentists, Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff are dedicated to the care and upkeep of your smile. There’s no question that a good smile has a positive social impact. It’s also a no-brainer that healthy, clean teeth and good dental care improve your smile.

However, did you know that the act of smiling is literally beneficial to your health?

Yes, smiling is good for you. The benefits of smiling have been quantified in scientific studies.

We’re here to help you make the most of your smile by keeping your teeth clean and healthy, as well as providing cosmetic dentistry services such as whitening, veneers, and full-mouth reconstruction. If you’re proud of your smile, you just might smile more often, and boost your health in the bargain!

Here’s how smiling has measurable health benefits.

Smiling Elevates Mood, Triggering Biological Benefits

Even faking a smile can improve your mood. It can actually trick your brain into releasing hormones that make you feel good, including dopamine and serotonin. This starts a cascade of positive effects, including reduced stress, lower heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and improved mood. If a pretend smile can have all these benefits, a genuine smile is probably even better! Smiling is the simplest, easiest, cheapest and most pleasurable way to improve your cardiovascular health.

Improve Your Immune Function with a Grin

All of these physical benefits reinforce your immune system. Decreased stress levels contribute to increased white blood cell count, which releases the beneficial antibodies we depend on to combat infection and disease.

Smiling Can Extend Your Lifespan

Those biological benefits can help you live longer. One study started in the 1950’s followed a group of Major League baseball players. Those pictured with major smiles lived five to seven years longer than their fellow players.

Grinning for Pain Reduction

A smile can help moderate discomfort — even a fake one. A study compared the reported pain level of patients receiving injections. Those who smiled experienced up to 40% less pain than the straight-faced.

In other words, tending to your dental health can have a positive impact on a huge range of health factors. If you’re self-conscious about your smile, please talk to us. Let’s turn your frown upside-down, and you can smile your way to better health.

If your smile is less than perfect, contact Eggert Family Dentistry today. Our focus is creating “Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles” and we are dedicated to providing the cosmetic dentistry you need, such as veneers, whitening, and full-mouth reconstructions. Give us a call today at 651.482.8412 to set up your next appointment!

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder(OMD): What Is It and How Does It Present?

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

You may have heard the term orofacial myofunctional disorder but how much do you know about it? If you’re like most people, probably not much. Surprisingly, it affects a large percentage of the population. It’s estimated that 38% or more than 1 out of 3 people are affected by OMD.

Defining Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder

Orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is a disorder of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth.

There are several causes of OMD:

Thumb or finger-sucking, cheek or nail-biting, bruxism, tongue, lip or cheek-sucking
Extended use of a pacifier or sippy cups
Tongue-tie
Neurological deficits and developmental delays

OMD can also be hereditary.

Symptoms of OMD include:

Insufficient nasal breathing or oral breathing
A habit of resting with the lips apart
A forward-resting positioning of the tongue
Tongue thrust
A restricted nasal airway due to enlarged tonsils/adenoids, deviated septum and/or allergies
TMJ
Headaches
Airway obstruction

OMD affects the body in many ways

OMD can cause dental problems

Because swallowing requires the cooperation of many muscles simultaneously, people who are diagnosed with OMD often have a difficult time swallowing. In some ODM cases, when swallowing, the tongue doesn’t press on the hard palate but instead is thrust up into the front teeth and out to the sides, putting undue pressure on the teeth. This can result in a misaligned bite which makes biting, chewing and swallowing difficult.

When the tongue pushes against the back of the front teeth it can create a gap between the upper and lower sets of teeth. This gap is referred to as an open bite.

OMD can affect facial appearance

Since OMD is characterized by improper muscle function in the jaw, the effects are often visible.

Physical observations may include:

A sluggish face and weak, parted lips
A tight chin
Facial grimace

OMD can cause sleep issues

An open airway requires proper positioning of the soft tissues of the mouth. When a person struggles with OMD, the soft tissues frequently obstruct the airway, causing mild or moderate sleep apnea.

OMD can affect speech

Once again, because of improper positioning of the tongue and lips, many people have a difficult time articulating sounds and may speak with a lisp.

Eggert Family Dentistry can help!

Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff have experience identifying OMD and helping devise custom treatment plans for each of our clients.

If you’re interested in talking with us more about OMD and are wondering if you could benefit from OMD interventions, give our office a call at 651.482.8412. We’re here to help you achieve a confident, healthy smile and wellness for life!

Stress, Anxiety and Your Oral Health

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

It’s estimated that 40 million Americans battle an anxiety disorder, the effects of which can be debilitating. Anxiety can cause panic attacks, headaches, depression, muscle aches, fatigue…the list goes on. What most of us don’t consider, however, is the effect that anxiety can have on our oral health.

Common oral side effects

Bruxism: Stress and anxiety cause tension in the jaw which can lead to teeth grinding. If you suspect you’re grinding your teeth, speak with Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff about a night guard to help protect your teeth from stress-related wear and tear.

TMD: When you experience stress or anxiety, you may clench your teeth and jaw. This tension causes stress on the temporomandibular joints which can cause temporomandibular disorder or TMD. At times, TMD can also be related to sleep and how you are (or are not!) sleeping. We have the ability to help you recognize signs and symptoms that your sleep may be broken or unhealthy. As with bruxism, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will likely recommend some kind of in-the-mouth appliance to ease jaw discomfort and protect these joints from wear. Learn more about TMD in one of our recent posts here!

Dry mouth: Many anti-anxiety medications, while effective at relieving anxiety, can reduce the production of saliva, leading to dry mouth. Without adequate saliva, it’s difficult for your mouth to rinse out food debris and plaque which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. It’s especially important to keep your mouth lubricated by sucking on sugar-free candy, chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water. Also, if you struggle with dry mouth, it’s especially important to brush and floss regularly as well as rinse with antibacterial and fluoridated mouthwash. Talk with us at your next recare visit as there are products we can recommend to help your dry mouth.

Lichen planus: Among other symptoms, stress can increase systemic inflammation. Inflammation increases the likelihood of developing mouth ulcers and white, lacy lines in the cheeks, known as lichen planus. This condition can cause a painful, burning sensation in the mouth and left untreated, has been linked to mouth cancer. Although it cannot be eliminated, you can reduce the symptoms of this bothersome condition in a number of ways. Learn more!

Cavities and gum disease: People who experience anxiety are more prone to dental phobia and therefore, oftentimes, avoid regular dental visits. When this occurs, oral health deteriorates and the instance of cavities and gum disease skyrockets. If you struggle with dental phobia, speak with Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff. They would love to explain our dental comforts and discuss how we can partner with you to make your visits as easy as possible!

Cold sores: Although the herpes simplex virus must be present for cold sores to develop, stress and anxiety can trigger an outbreak. It’s important to treat cold sores with an over-the-counter cream immediately to reduce the chances of spreading the virus to others.

Take charge of your oral health

Therapy, medications and regular exercise are just a few ways to reduce stress and anxiety before they wreak havoc on your oral health.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we know that your mental health affects your oral health and we believe that they are both equally important components of overall wellness. If you’re concerned that your oral health is being compromised on account of stress or anxiety in your life, we recommend making an appointment with your primary physician as well as with Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff at 651.482.8412.

Learn more about the connection between mental health and oral health here!

6 Ways to Help Ease Dental Phobia

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

As we covered in our previous post, people experience varying levels of anxiety about going to the dentist. There is, however, a percentage of the population that experiences dental phobia and avoids the dentist altogether. Fortunately, Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff of Eggert Family Dentistry recognize this struggle and work hard to ease patients’ fears.

Ways to ease dental phobia

According to the Dental Research Journal, 5-14% of people battle dental phobia. If you count yourself among this group and avoid routine dental care on account of irrational fears and feelings of terror, you will be relieved to learn that there are some excellent ways you and our dentists can work together to ease your phobia:

Music: Routine cleanings and most procedures are conducive to headphones. If you want to play music to calm your nerves, please do. We have overhead music, but if you prefer to listen to your own, bring your personal music device along. We have headphones available or you can bring your own.
Cable TV: It is also possible to watch your favorite TV shows as we have cable TV available with headphones in every procedure room.
Calming techniques: Sometimes the best way to ease your nerves in our chair is by practicing a variety of calming techniques. Deep breathing and visualization are two great go-to’s! Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff, as well as their assistants, Tracy and Heather, are very good at recognizing when you might need help with your breathing and are great at coaching you through any difficulties.
Hand signals: If feeling like you have no control when you’re in the dentist’s chair feeds your anxiety, speak with us about the use of hand signals. Communicating with us by simply raising your hand when you need a break or if you are experiencing any pain during your appointment can be enough to take the edge off that helpless feeling.
Communication: Talk about your fears with Dr. Elizabeth, Dr. Jeff, and our team. Sometimes, just having those fears validated is enough to quell them. This also gives us an opportunity to offer you updated information about the impending procedure and correct any misconceptions.
Medications: If you struggle with dental phobia, there are some sedatives available, but often aren’t needed when the techniques above are implemented. We also can use nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas) as an especially safe and effective in-office choice.

Our Comforts

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we work hard to make sure our patients are physically comfortable and mentally at ease. That’s why we have available a variety of comforts:

Warm neck and hand wraps
Spa hand treatments
Nitrous oxide
Comfy blankets
Headphones
Coffee, tea, water
Wi-Fi
Cable TV in every treatment room
State-of-the-art technology, including:
-Intraoral cameras – Your dentist or hygienist can take pictures of what they are seeing in your mouth to help them explain to you why they are recommending certain treatments.
-Laser dentistry – It’s typically more comfortable and less invasive than traditional methods.
-Digital x-rays
Relaxed environment
Wooded scenery great for wildlife viewing
Convenient location

Tracy talks about the comfort measures at Eggert Family Dentistry.

If you want to learn more about the Comforts we offer and how we ease dental phobia here at Eggert Family Dentistry, give us a call at 651.482.8412. We are happy to further discuss how we can make your next visit your best one yet!

Could I Have Dental Phobia?

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Dental anxiety is a widespread problem. Most of us know at least a few people who struggle with it…maybe you’re even one of them. However, when push comes to shove, most people with dental anxiety can still maintain their routine dental visits. Dental phobia, however, is a much more serious condition. Let’s take a look at what dental phobia is, what it can be attributed to and the side effects of dental phobia.

Signs of dental phobia

People who struggle with dental phobia experience dread and terror at the mere thought of the dentist and avoid going to the dental office all together unless they are in extreme pain. In addition to avoidance, dental phobia is characterized by insomnia leading up to a dental appointment, crying, nervousness, panic or an upset stomach in the waiting room or exam room.

Causes of dental phobia

Dental phobia can stem from a variety of underlying fears:

The fear of experiencing pain: Often attributed to bad childhood experiences or to other people’s horror stories, the fear of pain is one of the biggest contributors to dental phobia. Fortunately, with advancements in dental technology, most dental procedures today are virtually pain-free.
The fear of anesthetics: While used to calm, sedate or numb patients, people with dental phobia often fear anesthetics and their side effects such as nausea, dizziness or the “fat lip” feeling.
The fear of vulnerability: Many people with dental phobia say they fear having someone working within inches of their face and in their mouth. They also don’t want to feel helpless and want to be unable to see what’s going on.

Side effects

Left untreated, dental phobia can cause a variety of problems. Because people who suffer from dental phobia avoid regular dental visits and often delay needed dental work, they can develop gum disease and severe tooth decay and can experience early tooth loss. These unfortunate side effects can drastically impact a person’s self esteem and often these victims begin to withdraw socially. Worse yet, poor oral health has been proven to negatively impact a person’s heart and lung health and can lead to decreased life expectancy.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we rally around our patients. We want to make sure you get the care you need and that you’re as comfortable as possible! If you or a loved one struggle with dental anxiety or dental phobia and would like to learn how we can help, give us a call at 651.482.8412.

The Connection Between Mental Health and Oral Health

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

It has long been recognized that mental illness can lead to many inflammatory diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease and cancer. Recently, however, an increasing amount of attention is being directed at the correlation between mental health and oral health. Understanding this correlation can empower individuals who struggle with mental illness or people whose loved ones struggle with mental illness to take initiative in order to ward off a host of dental problems.

Common mental illnesses and their effect on oral health

Mental illnesses manifest themselves physically in a variety of ways and oral health is no exception:

Anxiety:

On account of the intense stress a person’s body experiences as the result of an anxiety disorder as well as some anti-anxiety medications that inadvertently decrease the mouth’s ability to produce saliva, these are some common oral health problems that can ensue:

Bruxism (teeth grinding)
TMD (Read our recent post here)
Dry mouth
Canker sores
Burning mouth syndrome
Lichen planus
Gingivitis or periodontal disease

Depression:

When a person experiences depression, they oftentimes increase their consumption of tobacco products and alcohol. These substances can cause attrition, or weakening of tooth enamel and tooth erosion due to gastro-esophageal reflux.

Eating Disorders:

According to a study with findings published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, between 35% and 38% of people with eating disorders battle tooth erosion. This is due largely to self-induced vomiting, which causes stomach acid to eat away at tooth enamel. Additionally, people who struggle with anorexia report a much greater percentage of decaying, missing and filled teeth than those who do not.

Bipolar:

Because bipolar can lend itself to manic behavior, this often translates into vigorous brushing and flossing that can cause dental abrasion and mucosal or gingival lacerations.

Dementia and Schizophrenia:

On account of psychotropic medications often prescribed for these illnesses, people with dementia and schizophrenia often experience an increase in bacteria-induced decay and gum disease.

Additionally, because people who struggle with varying levels of mental illness often experience an increase in substance abuse and/or a poor diet laden with carbonated drinks and sugary foods, they can truly suffer on multiple fronts. Left unaddressed, most oral health concerns resulting from mental illness lead to eventual tooth loss. So what can be done?

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we want to partner with you to help you achieve optimal dental wellness. If you are concerned about the effects of mental health on your oral health or that of a loved one, schedule an appointment with Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff today at 651.482.8412.