The ongoing global pandemic has increased stress levels for many individuals around the world. Stress can be detrimental to your overall wellbeing, especially your oral health.
Deteriorating dental health can mean that your smile is no longer looking its best. Dr. Ali Sarkarzadeh, a cosmetic dentist in Rockville, MD, describes three stress-induced behaviors that can harm your teeth.
3 Habits That Cause Cosmetic Dental Damage
Drinking Staining Beverages
Stress can disrupt your sleep schedule. If you wake up feeling groggy, you may turn to tea or coffee for a caffeine boost to get you through your day.
These beverages get their dark color from tannins, which can absorb into your teeth enamel over time and leave stains on the surface of your teeth. Typical teeth brushing regimens cannot remove this discoloration, though adding milk to your drink, using a straw, or choosing a lighter-colored brew may lower your risk of this staining occurring.
If you notice staining, yellowing, or discoloration in your teeth, you can ask your dentist about professional tooth whitening treatment.
Grinding and Clenching Teeth
Heightened stress levels may initiate or exacerbate teeth grinding or clenching habits, often referred to as bruxism. The grating of the top and bottom arches of teeth against each other creates an abnormal amount of pressure that can harm your teeth.
Teeth can chip or crack with continued bruxism. While major damage will need restorative dental work, minor cases can be treated with cosmetic dentistry such as tooth bonding.
Your dentist might recommend that you wear a mouthguard overnight to protect your teeth from damage that may occur from unconscious grinding as you sleep.
Skipping Dental Cleanings
Some patients may think it is easier to skip their routine dentist appointments rather than attempt to schedule a visit during the chaos of the pandemic. Neglecting regular care for your mouth can negatively impact the health of your teeth and therefore the appearance of your smile.
During these appointments, your dentist cleans and examines your teeth for signs of potential concerns so that they remain strong enough to look and feel their best. We recommend visiting your dentist every 6 months for these types of visits.
Visit a Cosmetic Dentist in Rockville, MD
Professional teeth whitening and other dental treatments are available at Congressional Dental Care to patients of all ages. Dr. Sarkarzadeh is a cosmetic dentist who also specializes in restorative, implant, and general dentistry in Rockville, MD. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 301.276.4694.