Just as we can see when a person’s physical health deteriorates, we can also tell when a person’s oral health is suffering. Symptoms like visibly dark teeth, tartar buildup, and bad breath are tale-tell signs of poor oral health. The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging reports that of poll respondents, 40% do not regularly visit the dentist.
Research also supports that mental and emotional health are tied to oral health status.
In today’s blog, you’ll learn how oral and mental health are connected and how addressing poor oral health improves mental outlook, overall health, and quality of life.
The Connection Between Mental and Oral Health
Psychiatry.org reports that poor oral health negatively affects a person’s ability to eat and speak, and it also has a strong impact on self-esteem. Poor oral health keeps people from engaging in social interactions, which further harms mental well-being and quality of life.
On the flip side, the same article reports that psychiatric disorders can contribute to problems like cavities, gum disease, dry mouth from medications, teeth grinding, and anxiety over visiting the dentist. Austin Laser Dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale, offers treatment for all of these problems and provides gentle dental procedures to restore good oral health.
Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings
Every six months, all patients over age five need a thorough dental checkup and cleaning. The checkup gives Dr. Ragsdale the opportunity to evaluate a person’s teeth, gums, jaw joints, occlusion, and scan for signs of oral cancer. Checkups are extremely important because when we find and treat oral health issues in the early stages, treatment is less invasive, less costly, and more comfortable.
Along with checkups, we provide gentle dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar from teeth, above the gum line. Plaque is a naturally occurring bacterial substance that clings to teeth, particularly at the base of teeth on the gum line and between teeth. Plaque hardens into a calcified, non-soluble substance called tartar or calculus.
Over time, tartar irritates gum tissue as bacteria break the bonds between teeth and gums to form periodontal pockets. From there, gum disease develops and progresses. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in America and is linked to issues like heart attack, stroke, diabetes complications, low-weight births, and cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Treatment for Gum Disease
If you have periodontal pockets deeper than 3 mm, we will diagnose gum disease. Instead of undergoing a regular dental cleaning, our patients with gum disease need a deep dental cleaning. This treatment involves scaling teeth to remove plaque and tartar below the gum line. We then plane teeth roots to remove rough areas and ridges where plaque and tartar accumulate. In some cases, antibiotics are administered, as well.
Patients with gum disease are advised to visit us every three months for deep cleanings until the gums heal and reattach to teeth.
Treatment for Teeth Grinding
Called bruxism, habitual clenching and grinding of teeth can be easily treated with a night guard. Wearing a nightguard keeps upper and lower teeth from touching, thus eliminating the ability to grind teeth. Further, Dr. Ragsdale provides treatments to restore damage caused by bruxism.
Treatment for Dry Mouth
Many psychotropic medications cause dry mouth, which is an actual condition not just a description of a symptom. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth provides a good environment for bad bacteria to thrive. You can use over-the-counter spray, paste, gel, or rinse specifically formulated to relieve dry mouth. Talk with Dr. Ragsdale if you suffer from dry mouth.
Sedation for Dental Anxiety
Patients who struggle with feelings of dread and stress over dental visits may opt for sedation dentistry. Dr. Ragsdale uses sedatives and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to sedate anxious patients so they can receive the dental care they need, without anxiety. While sedation dentistry does not cause a person to sleep, many patients feel so relaxed that they snooze during treatment. Often, the patient has little or no memory of the treatment.
Call Austin Laser Dentist Today
At Austin Laser Dentist, our team understands that mental and emotional well-being are tied to oral health quality. We want to help you receive the dental care you need, so you can enjoy the myriad benefits of smiling regularly. Smiling lifts the spirits of the person smiling and everyone who witnesses the smile, thus having a contagious effect that spreads happiness.
Call us today at 512-346-4690 for dental restoration, sedation dentistry, and regular dental checkups and cleanings. Dr. Ragsdale is known in the Austin area as a gentle dentist who offers advanced technology for clinical accuracy and patient comfort. Give us a call, and we’ll give you a reason to smile.
