TV'S Dr. Oz has three tips for a stressful mouth!

Happy Friday! TV's Doctor Oz recently did a segment on Three Signs of Stress in Your Mouth, and provided some solutions to relieve tension and to check how healthy your gums are. Our staff at Abba Dental thought we'd pass along his suggestions for a stressful mouth.

1. Teeth Grinding: Mouth Guard & “Hook & Pull” Exercise - Dr. Oz said that people who grind their teeth tend to have a lot more stress hormone in their body, and that grinding your teeth can cause headaches, earaches and pain. Also, the Chicago Dental Society has suggested that since the recession began in 2007, teeth grinding, or bruxism, has been on the rise. A mouth guard can help relieve your teeth grinding, and Dr. Oz says that you can do a “Hook and Pull” exercise when your put one index finger in either side of your mouth and pull your mouth out horizontally. Then from that position you can massage the muscle, which can be very helpful for getting rid of stress.

2. Canker Sores: Hydrogen Peroxide & Milk of Magnesia - Dr. Oz said canker sores are stress-related and often happen when your immune system is suppressed. A good home remedy, Dr. Oz said, is to swish around a solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent hydrogen peroxide inside of your mouth. Also, you may dab Milk of Magnesia on your canker sore 3-4 times a day for relief.

3. Gingivitis: Cranberry Floss - Here's Dr. Oz's theory: Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is more common among people who are stressed out because roughly 50 percent of people do not floss or brush regularly when they are under stress, which causes their gums to recede and pull away from your teeth. Dr. Oz recommends drinking unsweetened cranberry juice to ward off plaque, and said you can even buy cranberry floss!

If you have any questions about your gum health, we encourage you to give us a call or ask Drs. Lim or Azizi during your next visit!

Abba Dental, reminding you to wear your mouth guards

Let’s face it: sports-related injuries are common, especially if you participate in sports. Below are some frequently questions about mouth guards that Drs. Lim and Azizi and our staff at Abba Dental thought we'd share. Whether you are an athlete or casual sports participant, you should wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth. If you grind your teeth while you sleep, a bite guard will help reduce symptoms of TMJ. We custom make mouth guards in both soft and hard materials.

If you have any additional questions, give us a call at 604-688-7201. We'd love to hear from you!

Q: What are athletic mouth protectors?

A: Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.

Q: Why are mouth guards important?

A: Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect you from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injury to their athletes. Research shows that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.

Q: When should I wear a mouth guard?

A: Whenever you are in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.

Q: How do I choose a mouth guard?

A: Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard. We custom make mouth guards in both soft and hard materials.

Drs. Lim or Azizi can advise you on what type of mouth guard is best for you. You may schedule an appointment with us by calling 604-688-7201.

Smoking and your oral health, from Abba Dental

Our staff at Abba Dental know that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75 percent of gum disease in adults. And, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral-health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health, Dr. Keith Lim and Dr. Baha Azizi strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For more information on smoking and its effects on your gums and overall health, we encourage you to check out this helpful article. Have a great weekend!

Your turn! From Abba Dental

By now, you probably know the drill: Week after week, our staff at Abba Dental blog about important topics pertinent to dental care and your well-being, including innovative dental techniques we offer at our convenient downtown Vancouver office.

Today, though, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients and readers: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the field of dentistry? What would you like us to focus on our blog in the coming months? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page! So take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!