Cosmetic Dental Damage and Pandemic Stress

With heightened regulations and chaos during this ongoing global pandemic, many individuals are more stressed than usual. Increased stress levels can be detrimental to your well-being, including your oral health.

Stress-related habits can harm the appearance of your smile too. Dr. Thomas Prendergast, a dentist practicing near McHenry, IL, describes three stress-related behaviors that can harm your teeth and lead to you requiring cosmetic dentistry treatment.

Stress-Related Habits That Harm Teeth

Beverages That Stain

Stress can negatively impact your sleeping habits. If you wake up feeling groggy, you may turn to coffee or tea for a caffeine boost to help you get through your day.

Dark-colored beverages like tea or coffee contain tannins, which can absorb into tooth enamel and leave stains on your teeth. This discoloration cannot be removed with brushing or flossing.

Adding milk to your beverage or choosing a lighter-colored brew may lower the risk of tooth discoloration. If you notice yellowing, staining, or discoloration in your teeth, you can ask your dentist about professional teeth whitening treatment.

Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Stress is linked to teeth grinding or clenching, a behavior often referred to as bruxism. The pressure of grating the top teeth against the bottom teeth creates more wear and tear than your teeth may be able to endure.

This could mean that your teeth are subject to chips, cracks, or breaks when exposed to this abnormal amount of pressure. Your dentist might recommend wearing a mouthguard at night to protect your teeth from grinding that may occur in your sleep.

Major tooth breakage will likely require restorative dental work. However, dentists can amend minor damage with cosmetic dental treatments like porcelain veneers or tooth bonding.

Skipped Dentist Appointments

The turmoil of the global pandemic might make you think that it is easier to skip your regular dental appointments rather than venture to your dentist’s office. However, missing these visits can be harmful to your oral health.

During routine dental appointments, your dentist cleans plaque and tartar from spots of your mouth that are missed with traditional brushing techniques. If left untreated, plaque can eat away at tooth enamel and weaken your teeth’s ability to stop cosmetic damage.

To protect your teeth, you should continue to see your dentist regularly. Your dentist recommends scheduling routine appointments every six months.

Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments Near McHenry, IL

Infinity Dental offers teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry treatments to patients near McHenry, IL. Dr. Prendergast also specializes in restorative and general dentistry as well as dental implants. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 847.447.6637.