It’s December, which means that many of us are deep into preparations for Christmas and winter vacation. This is a highly stressful time for most, and stress is very hard on your oral health. Too much stress encourages your gums to recede and your mouth to stop fighting infections, while aggravating tooth grinding and fostering mouth sores. So, how can you manage your seasonal stressors?

One of the best things you can do is to plan ahead for the holidays. Be mindful of how much you can handle, and never take on more than your known limitations. Identify people in your life whom you can trust, and delegate important tasks to them. Finally, if anything does go wrong, try to keep in mind that you shouldn’t be taking the holidays too seriously.

Another important thing to remember is that you should avoid letting your normal routine slide. Not only is your regular oral hygiene a big part of keeping your mouth clean, but it’s been demonstrated that maintaining a routine helps to reduce your stress.

Have you ever thought about what’s in your toothpaste? Though you may not be exposed to much of any particular ingredient during a single brushing, a harmful substance can quickly build up. It is widely recommended that everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day. This adds up to over seven hundred brushings every year. With this in mind, it pays to look out for the following substances found in certain pastes which may have detrimental effects on your mouth:

• Blue Dye No. 2: Some people believe that this coloring agent is connected to learning and behavior issues in children, as well as certain allergies.
• Hydrated Silica: This substance is commonly used as an abrasive. Possibly a little too good at its job, too much hydrated silica may break down your enamel.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: A possible irritant for your skin and gum tissues, this chemical can invite canker sores.
• Triclosan: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the effects of this substance are not well understood. Further study is required.

There are many toothpastes available in the dental aisle that advertise an ability to whiten your teeth as they brush. Some people consider these an economical alternative to a professional whitening treatment at their dentist’s office. However, the unfortunate truth is that a whitening toothpaste is probably doing more harm than good.

If you have one of the so-called “whitening toothpastes”, take a close look at its packaging. The fine print likely qualifies that it whitens “by removing surface stains”. This means that it only serves to remove stains before they set, doing nothing to remove long-standing stains. Indeed, anything with the power to remove pigmentation from your enamel is going to require more time than an average tooth brushing to have any significant effect, and may be too abrasive for your sensitive gums.

When you want to have your teeth whitened, your best option is to visit our Bellevue dentistry clinic for a customized, professional treatment. Under the eye of a professional, you can enjoy effective, lasting results while minimizing any damage to your teeth or gums.

After you have suffered a heart attack, you will need to take special measures to look after your own health for a while as you recover. This naturally means adopting a heart-healthy diet and avoiding anything that causes you stress. However, it is far easier to ignore the potential implications of your heart attack on your dental health.

Following your heart attack, it is wise to wait for at least six months before you schedule any dental treatments. Visiting the dentist is a source of stress for many people, and you may not be in a condition to handle such stress for a while. Meanwhile, if you are taking medication to treat your condition, you will have to assure that it is not going to interact poorly with any treatment you receive. Be sure to inform our Bellevue dentist if you have had a heart attack, and provide a list of any medications you are using, along with their dosages. It is also a good idea to provide the contact information of your doctor, just in case anything should go wrong during your appointments.

Thrush is a fungal condition that most commonly happens in infants and toddlers. It happens when the candida fungus manages to grow wild the child’s mouth. This is a painful and detrimental condition, but you can take measures to protect yourself or your child from this unfortunate condition.

The candida fungus is commonly present in any mouth, but it is usually kept in check by your saliva. It is for this reason that anything which dries out your mouth can potentially encourage the development of thrush. Stress, smoking, and certain medications can all contribute to this. If you can control these factors in your own life, you are less likely to infect the vulnerable mouth of an infant in your life.

On top of this, the best thing you can do for your child is give him or her proper dental care. Work to foster good oral hygiene, limit consumption of sugars and yeast-heavy foods, and bring him or her in for regular dental appointments at our Bellevue dentistry clinic.