Tooth Grinding

Grinding, clenching, bruxing-many different names for a problem that can have severe detrimental effects on your teeth. Many of you may have been told by your dentist, "you're a tooth grinder!" and to that you might have answered, "what can I do?" or "why does that matter?"

First let's establish what this problem is. It is the forceful movement of your lower jaw into your upper jaw and then the subsequent grinding of teeth together, usually done during sleep.

Signs and symptoms can include (but are not limited to): wearing of teeth, breaking of teeth, sensitive teeth, loose teeth, fracture lines in teeth, waking up with headaches, facial muscle soreness, TMJ pain or tenderness, and various periodontal issues.

Finding a solution to this problem and correcting it can be tricky. The etiology can be dental, musculo-skeletal, or even stress. Many times bruxing is the result of a mild combination of all these factors which leads to a rather LARGE problem. Having a bite that is off or a slight skeletal discrepancy is not so bad but mix in the stresses of daily life (ie. job, family, etc) and you can wake up in the morning feeling like you were chewing a pack of Trident all night. It is important to find a professional to evaluate you and see what the cause of your tooth grinding is.

Many times reducing stress can improve the symptoms. However, you may find that visiting your local dental care provider and having your bite evaluated and adjusted or using a nightguard can alleviate the problem completely.

Bruxing will ultimately affect the longevity of your teeth. We as a society are living longer lives, having healthier teeth can influence the overall quality of life . Remember, if you take care of your teeth now, they'll take care of you later.

For further information about this please contact your dental professional.

Timing Is Everything!

I am sure everyone will agree that in life, timing is everything. This cannot be more true when it comes to your child's orthodontic treatment.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO, www.braces.org) recommends that children should be evaluated by an orthodontist no later than 7 years of age. You may be thinking that your child has many baby teeth at this age and why should something like braces be considered.

The fact is that your child may not need treatment right away but your orthodontist can evaluate your child and see if your child's teeth and jaws are developing correctly. If something is not developing correctly then early intervention is key to a healthy smile and correctly aligned jaws. Many times limited early treatment can prevent problems from getting worse and even result in your child not needing full braces when they get older.

So as the school year comes to an end and summer vacation activities start, find time to visit your local orthodontist for a consultation and become educated on your child's orthodontic needs.

NYC Heatwave

The first day of summer may be June 20 but here in the New York City Metro Area we are officially in a heatwave. Although many may enjoy the free tanning opportunity and trips to the local pool or beach, there are some serious health concerns to be aware of.

According to the Department of Health some of the people who are at risk during this very warm weather (but not limited to) are:

• People who are 75 years or older and/or live by themselves
• People who are either mentally or physically handicapped and need assistance with day to day activities
• Certain medications may make you vulnerable in high temperature so you should check with your physician to see if you are at risk and what to do
• Those who suffer from cardiac or respiratory issues should be cautious in this weather
• People who work outside (landscapers, construction workers, policemen, firefighters, athletes, etc.)
• Babies and children under 4 years of age

When in doubt it is always better to be safe than sorry. Keep an eye on your neighboor who lives alone, the gardener who toils endlessly over their lawn, or the crossing guard who protects you and your children.

Knowing when someone is suffering from heat exhaustion may be tricky but some things to look for are: headaches, nausea, dehydration, sleepiness, confusion, short-temperedness, hot or dry skin, and loss of consciousness.

To avoid the harmful effects of the heat try to stay cool. Avoid being outdoors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (the hottest times of the day). If you need to do work outdoors during the day try to arrange your schedule so you are outdoors in the earlier or later parts of the day. Keep your curtains closed during the day to keep out the heat. Try not to run the clothes dryer or use the oven during the hotter parts of the day. Make sure you drink plenty of water during the day. Avoid beverages that may dehydrate you like: tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Try to wear loose comfortable clothing made from cotton.

Many of these things may seem like common sense but heat stroke or dehydration sneaks up on you and can be deadly. By the time you are aware of what is going on it is too late. So be respectful of the sun - check on the elders, children, and pets.

Be safe and enjoy the summer.