The ongoing global pandemic and the restrictions, risks, and regulations that have accompanied these times have led to increased stress levels in many individuals. Stress can be detrimental to your overall wellbeing, including your oral health.
Deteriorating dental health can mean that your smile is no longer looking its best. Dr. Clement Monroe and Dr. Kamron Monroe, dentists in Pinehurst, NC, describe three stress-related habits that could contribute to dental damage requiring cosmetic dentistry solutions.
Beware of Staining Beverages
Heightened stress levels can interrupt your sleep schedule. If you wake up feeling groggy, you may turn to coffee or tea for a caffeine boost to get you through your daily activities.
Dark-colored beverages like tea and coffee contain tannins, which can absorb into your tooth enamel over time to leave stains on the surface of your teeth. This discoloration cannot be removed with typical teeth brushing habits.
Adding milk to your beverage, using a straw, and selecting a lighter-colored brew may lower your chances of teeth discoloration from these drinks but will not eliminate this risk. If you notice yellowing or staining in your teeth, you can talk to your dentist about professional teeth whitening treatment.
Protect from Teeth Grinding
Stress can initiate or exacerbate an existing tooth grinding or clenching habit. This behavior, called bruxism, creates abnormally high pressure on your teeth. They could be at risk of chipping, cracking, or fracturing.
Severe dental damage will require restorative dental treatment. But minor tooth breakage can be amended with cosmetic dentistry such as tooth bonding. Your dentist may recommend that you wear a mouthguard overnight to protect your teeth from bruxism that may occur as you sleep.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
The chaos of the pandemic has led many dental patients to consider it easier to skip their routine dentist appointments rather than schedule a visit with existing regulations. This can negatively impact your smile’s health and appearance.
During these appointments, dentists clean plaque build-up from your teeth from spots of your mouth difficult to reach with traditional oral hygiene regimens. Without this cleaning, your teeth can be at risk of decay, gum disease, and other dental issues that could detract from the look of your smile as well.
Cosmetic Dentistry Services Available in Pinehurst, NC
Drs. Monroe and Monroe Implant and General Dentistry offers professional teeth whitening and other cosmetic dental treatments to patients in Pinehurst, NC. Our practice also specializes in restorative and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 910.295.4242.