Dentist Jefferson City Blog

Dec 09 2022

TMD: What Is It And What To Do About It

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research says about 5 to 12 percent of people experience TemporoMandibular Disorders (TMD). This acronym covers a range of conditions affecting the joints, muscles, and nerves in the jaw. At Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, we see these conditions frequently. We can help relieve the symptoms for folks with this painful problem.

What are the temporomandibular joints?

With one on each side of your face, the temporomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to your skull. These joints and the supporting muscles enable you to open and close your mouth, and to move your lower jaw from side to side. If you place your fingers in front of your ears and open your mouth, you can feel these joints.

What is TMD?

TMD occurs when parts of the temporomandibular joint become inflamed or break down or when the associated muscles become troublesome. The chronic muscle spasms and inflammation associated with this condition become painful and make normal use of the jaws difficult.

What causes TMD?

The cause of the disorder can’t always be pinpointed. However, TMD may be caused by trauma which affects the joints or chewing muscles. It’s often associated with sleep and airway disorders. Stress behaviors, like clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth, can aggravate the condition. TMD appears to be more common in women than men, though the reasons are still being investigated.

How do I know if I have TMD?

Those with TMD may experience one or more of these symptoms on either or both sides of the face:

Jaw pain or soreness that is more intense in the morning or late afternoon
Jaw pain connected with chewing, biting, or yawning
Clicking noises when opening and closing the mouth
Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
Locking or stiffness of the jaw when talking, yawning, or eating
Tooth sensitivity not associated with dental problems
Headaches or neck pain
An earache not associated with an ear infection

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact us for an evaluation. We can examine the joints and muscles in your jaw for tenderness, clicking, popping, or difficulty moving.

How is TMD treated?

Many TMD cases can be handled with simple lifestyle modifications, including:

Avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails
Taking non-aspirin pain relievers or using heat packs to manage pain
Eating soft foods
Practicing relaxation or stress relief techniques

In more severe cases, we may recommend:

Physical therapy (exercises to strengthen the jaw muscles)
Appliance therapy (a splint, mouthguard, or bite plate)
Medication (e.g., pain relievers, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, or anti-anxiety drugs)

Is TMD permanent?

TMD symptoms are often cyclical and can recur periodically. If you have this disorder, we can monitor your symptoms and manage your condition so you can enjoy a better quality of life. Learn more at the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

Dec 09 2022

Bad Breath: Could It Suggest A More Serious Problem?

DOES YOUR BREATH STINK? Do you know if your breath stinks? What causes it? What can be done about it? Here at our practice we get lots of questions about bad breath. Sometimes the questions come from a long-suffering friend or family member of somebody else with bad breath.

Causes Of Bad Breath (often called “halitosis”)
Halitosis can be caused by a number of things—some more serious than others. Here are the most common causes:

Things You Eat, Like Garlic And Onions
Foods like garlic and onions contain oils that transfer through your bloodstream into your lungs, causing odor to be emitted each time you exhale.
Things You Don’t Eat, And A Dry Mouth
Dieting can trigger different chemical processes that can make you more susceptible to bad breath. Also, not eating slows down saliva production, decreasing your mouth’s ability to clean away bacterial build-up. That’s why “morning breath” is unpleasant. Also, certain prescription medications can cause dry mouth.
The Way You Feel
Sometimes a cold or sore throat can be the culprit with odors coming directly from the bacteria or mucus trapped in your mouth or sinus area. Typically, these problems won’t go away until the symptoms causing them are gone.
Things That May Be More Serious
More serious causes include things like gum disease, kidney problems, diabetes, oral cancer, anorexia/bulimia and others. That’s why it’s so important to contact us about chronic bad breath problems that you just can’t seem to solve.

Things You Can Do That Help

Remember, chronic or extreme bad breath is not normal. If you have any questions about causes, symptoms, or remedies talk with our team.

Practice good oral hygiene! You know—brush and floss!
Gently brush your tongue.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash regularly.
Eat healthy, drink enough water, and don’t smoke.
Occasionally chew sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless mint.
If you wear any oral appliance, or have dentures, clean them thoroughly.
Don’t miss or postpone regular dental checkups.

A Little Fun With “a new sense of daintiness…”

Contrary to the popular legend that Listerine coined the term “halitosis”, it actually dates back to the 1870’s. However, Listerine made the term commonplace by using it in many of their ad campaigns. Halitosis combines the Latin “halitus”, meaning “breath”, with the Greek suffix “osis” used to describe a medical condition.

Thanks, As Always, For Being Our Valued Patient
We sincerely appreciate the trust you place in us. And thanks for your kind referrals of friends, family members, and coworkers. Leave us a comment below or send us a direct message on our Facebook page!

Dec 09 2022

Enamel Erosion From Acid Reflux Disease Damages Your Smile

LOOKING INSIDE SOMEONE’S MOUTH, members of my Jefferson City dental team can learn a lot! We can get clues about your diet, how sound you sleep, and perhaps whether or not you struggle with acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Disease Is Very Common Today
Acid reflux disease is quite common in adults over the age of 20. This is a condition where stomach acid leaks up into the esophagus creating heartburn or regurgitation. Often, the symptoms are not severe so it can go unnoticed or ignored.

Most People Don’t Realize The Potential Effects On Teeth
If you suffer from acid reflux it’s possible that there’s more damage going on than you realize. Frequent and/or severe reflux can cause those powerful acids to reach your mouth—and your teeth, which can lead to enamel erosion. Although the following symptoms can be caused by a number of conditions, acid reflux is certainly one of them. Are you experiencing…

sensitivity to certain foods?
unexplained pain or irritation in your mouth?
noticeable thinning or shortening of teeth?
darkening of your teeth?

5 Things You Can Do To Help Protect Your Smile
If you struggle with acid reflux, here are five things you can do to protect your smile from enamel erosion:

1. Treat your acid reflux disease!
Take this condition seriously. If you’re not yet being treated, see your doctor for recommendations and/or medications that help keep your acid reflux under control.

2. Make simple dietary changes.
Limit acidic foods and drinks like sodas, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, milk, caffeine, chocolate, spicy & fried foods, fatty meats or anything acidic in nature.

3. Rinse your mouth with water after reflux episodes.
Don’t let the acids sit on your teeth. Rinsing will wash away acids and help prevent further damage.

4. Wait an hour after reflux episodes to brush your teeth.
Exposure to acid can temporarily weaken enamel. Brushing immediately after reflux episodes can be harsh on your teeth and may hurt your enamel more.

5. Keep your mouth moist and fresh.
Chew sugarless gums, lozenges, or candies. If you use antacids, look for sugar-free ones and rinse after consuming.

On The Lighter Side…
Life’s too short, right? Sometimes we have to lighten things up—even when talking about serious subjects!

Talk With Us About Your Acid Reflux
At Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, we understand how frustrating it can be to live with chronic acid reflux disease. Give us a call if you have concerns. We always enjoy and appreciate visiting with you about your oral health and whole-body health.

As always… Thanks for being our valued patient and friend.

Dec 09 2022

Women’s Oral Health: What Every Woman Should Know

DID YOU KNOW THAT WOMEN HAVE special challenges when it comes to their oral health? Hormonal cycles can affect the way women’s bodies react to bacteria and plaque inside their mouths. If you’re a woman—or if you’d like to pass this information along to a woman who could benefit from it—our team at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri encourages you to learn more about these important women’s oral health facts.

Hormonal Cycles Can Affect Gums

Puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation cause increased progesterone and estrogen levels which can lead to increased gum sensitivity. There’s also a condition known as menstruation gingivitis, which can cause some women to experience increased bleeding and swollen gums right before menstruation. This condition is typically not serious and clears up quickly. Gingivitis during pregnancy can be more severe, and may even cause non-cancerous oral tumors. That’s another reason why it’s important for women’s oral health to keep their regular checkup appointments during pregnancy.

Oral contraceptives also increase hormonal levels in women’s bodies which can cause increased sensitivity and vulnerability to gum disease. During menopause, hormonal fluctuations can also create oral health problems including dry mouth syndrome, which can significantly add to tooth decay risk damaging women’s oral health.

Other Women’s Oral Health Problems That Occur More Than In Men

Women are almost twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders). TMD causes strain on one’s jaw joint and potential damage to teeth, often as a result of clenching and/or teeth grinding.

HPV is becoming more common, and research is increasingly suggesting a link between HPV and oral cancer. Regular oral cancer screenings are important whether or not a woman has high risk factors.

As you know, women are much more susceptible to osteoporosis than men which can cause jaw bone loss and associated periodontal disease problems.

The Great News? Women Take Better Care Of Their Oral Health!

As you might expect, a helpful remedy in many instances is to simply maintain good oral health habits! Fortunately, women are better at this than men! A recent studyof over 800 young men and women shows:

Women are more consistent when it comes to regular checkups
Women exhibit better attitudes toward dentistry in general
Women have better personal oral health habits

OK… Here’s Just A Fun Little Aside From “The View”
This isn’t dentistry specific, but it’s a fun little twist on our discussion. Enjoy!

Questions?
If you have any questions about your oral health or any of the special challenges we’ve talked about above, be sure to ask us! There are lots of easy ways to connect with us—and we promise to be very responsive! You can make a comment below, or even connect with us on our Facebook page.

YOU are a valued part of Stadium Dental Center. Thanks for being our patient!

Dec 09 2022

The Connection Between Gum Disease And Rheumatoid Arthritis

A growing body of research linking periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis suggests that taking care of our teeth may also be a really good way to take care of our joints. Researchers found that porphyromonas gingivalis, the same bacteria primarily responsible for gum disease, can also be found in the knee joints of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Oral Health Problems Don’t Remain Isolated In Our Mouths

There are significant links between our oral health and our whole body health. The connection between gum disease and RA isn’t the only evidence studies have found of oral bacteria migrating to other parts of the body. Gum health has also been linked by some researchers to many other systemic conditions including diabetes, heart health, Alzheimer’s, and more.

The Common Thread

RA is an inflammatory immune disorder. Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria in your mouth may release an enzyme which makes the residue of certain proteins in your body appear to be foreign intruders. If you have RA, this can cause your immune system to attack your own body.

What Can You Do?

When monitoring the health of our bodies, a great place to start is with our mouths. The simplest of things can help prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing and spreading throughout the body.

· Brush once or twice each day.

· Floss daily.

· Use an Oral Rinse every day

· Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper

· Schedule regular cleanings and exams (remembering that you may need more frequent appointments if you have signs of gum disease).

Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Make Dental Hygiene More Difficult

Do you have RA? Or, does someone you care for (an aging parent, for example) have RA? Don’t forget that it may be harder for people who suffer from RA to do simple things like properly and thoroughly brush teeth. And, flossing can be even harder because of limited hand flexibility.

If you’re in a position where you need to assist someone with RA (or yourself), please let us know! We can help you brainstorm alternate methods for oral health care that will help.

Thanks for your trust in Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri!

What are the temporomandibular joints?

What is TMD?

What causes TMD?

How do I know if I have TMD?

How is TMD treated?

Is TMD permanent?

Things You Can Do That Help

A Little Fun With “a new sense of daintiness…”

Hormonal Cycles Can Affect Gums

Other Women’s Oral Health Problems That Occur More Than In Men

The Great News? Women Take Better Care Of Their Oral Health!

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