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PREMIER DENTAL N EWS L E T T E R
EDITION 26
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Relax HOW STRESS IMPACTS YOUR ORAL HEALTH
Gum disease — Because stress weakens our immune system, our body cannot resist infections easily. This can lead to cycles of gum disease in susceptible patients. TMD and TMJ — Trigeminal mediated disorders (TMD) affect the muscles and joints in our jaw. Clenching or grinding our teeth can contribute to TMD through muscle tension. The jaw muscles become sore and inflamed, and there can be pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in front of our ears. Sometimes, it even hurts to chew or open wide. Many headaches are also related to muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and back. Dry mouth — Dry mouth occurs when our salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva. It can be a response to stress and anxiety, certain medications, cancer treatment, or general medical conditions. Our mouth may feel parched and our throat scratchy, and it may be worse at night. Dry mouth also increases the risk of cavities. Biotene is designed to fight this chronic condition and can be found at most pharmacies. Canker sores — Canker sores are painful spots on the tissues of our mouth. We are more prone to canker sores when we are stressed. Canker sores could take up to two weeks to heal. As you may have noticed, there are solutions to help mitigate or resolve some of these symptoms brought on by stress. (Biotene or night guards are great examples of this.) However, we can also reduce the risk of these incidents by practicing relaxation techniques. Personally, I find reading to be an enjoyable way to de-stress. I also enjoy surfing the net while listening to music, and I will sometimes do light yoga or breathing exercises. My suggestion is to watch out for your stress triggers and find ways to counteract their effects. Try exercising, meditating, practicing general breathing exercises like those found in yoga or qi gong, and talking to family, friends, or a professional. Be sure to avoid self- medication and also curb your caffeine intake. Whatever it is you do to combat stress, make sure it’s something you enjoy. My goal when relaxing is to do something that makes me happy. When you need to relax, try finding what makes you the happiest, and channel your energy there.
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Stress is an inevitable part of our lives, but we’ve had more than our fair share with COVID-19. Most of us are feeling greater effects from stress than before as we work to maintain our health, manage money, go to work or create an at-home office, find child care, attempt digital schooling, and deal with social isolation. While we may be feeling more stress, it’s important that we understand the difference between good stress and bad stress. Good stress is usually associated with excitement. It’s how you feel when you’re riding a roller coaster, going to the prom, or competing in a game. It keeps us feeling alive and excited about life. Bad stress can be divided into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute stress usually involves a sudden surprise that needs a quick response. It triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response but doesn’t take a heavy toll if we calm down afterward. Chronic stress is different. It occurs when we repeatedly face stressors that take a heavy toll and feel inescapable. Our bodies are not designed for chronic stress, and over time, we feel it mentally and physically. We may struggle to concentrate or complete tasks, and feel more sadness, depression, anger, or anxiety than usual. Our bodies can ache, our appetites change, we may have trouble falling asleep, and we can get sick more often.
OFFICE STAFF:
PATIENT COORDINATOR
MICHELE
DENTAL ASSISTANT
CATHLEEN
HYGIENISTS
CHARLENE JULIA
PRACTICE MANAGER
PETER
Just as our bodies feel the tremendous effects of stress, our teeth can also pay a price.
Bruxism — This is the medical term for grinding and clenching our teeth. This occurs mainly in our sleep and can create chips, flattened tips, or sharp edges. Excessive force also causes more sensitivity to temperature. A night guard can help relieve this tension.
–Dr. Hema Gopal
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Is Your Daughter a ‘VSCO Girl’?
10 SIGNS TO LOOK FOR THIS SPRING Is your daughter obsessed with scrunchies? Does she love posting on TikTok? Has it been more than six months since you’ve seen her without her Hydro Flask? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you just might be living with a VSCO Girl. What is a VSCO Girl? The term VSCO Girl first appeared in Urban Dictionary in July of 2019, and it’s been in the news ever since. The word VSCO (pronounced “vis-co”) comes from the name of a popular editing app for photographers. Like Instagram, VSCO offers filters and other features to enhance photographs. These “looks” are so distinctive that teens and 20-somethings who used the filters became known online as “VSCO Girls.” From there, a simple obsession with an app spiraled into an entire identity based on the vibes that the filters gave off. Self-identified “VSCO Girls’’ are eco-friendly, laid-back, and feminine in a cutesy, Lisa Frank kind of way. Look up #VSCOgirl, and you’ll find more than a million videos of people either mocking or displaying VSCO Girl traits. Even two years in, #VSCOcam is one of the top 100 hashtags on Instagram. How can you spot the signs? If you want to know whether your daughter fits the VSCO trend, you’re in luck: There are dozens of visible markers to look for. According to Teen Vogue, a “VSCO Girl Starter Kit” includes pastel clothes (specifically scrunchies, T-shirt
dresses, Crocs, and high-waisted shorts), Vans shoes, lip gloss, Hydro Flasks, reusable straws, canvas tote bags, Birkenstocks, disposable or instant cameras, strands of twinkle lights, and an obsession with curling hair and eyelashes. On their own, these are all innocuous traits, but together they scream “VSCO Girl.” Now what? There’s nothing inherently wrong with being a “VSCO Girl.” If your daughter identifies as one, the only thing that might be worth worrying about is how much time she spends on Instagram or TikTok. So instead of quashing her aesthetic, try using your newfound knowledge to bond a little. If you take her scrunchie shopping or share an article about saving the sea turtles, you just might win the title of “cool parent.”
ARE THEY REALLY SAFE? The Truth About Essential Oils
How are essential oils misused? When it comes to essential oils, there are two big mistakes people might make: They either overuse essential oils with their children or they apply them the wrong way. When essential oils are concerned, proper application and amount can make a life-or-death difference. Nutmeg oil, for example, tastes delicious in food but can cause hallucinations and even comas when mishandled, and eucalyptus oil, which can soothe a cough, can also cause seizures if ingested. Another example is sage oil; it has beneficial applications, but even small amounts can make a child very ill. How can you use my oils safely? If you use essential oils or oil-based products, it’s vital that you follow the instructions that come with them and keep bottles of pure oil locked away from your kids and pets. When you’re using oils topically, dilute them with a barrier substance like a non-essential oil, lotion, or aloe jelly; and when you’re inhaling them, use a waterless or water-based diffuser. Finally, when in doubt, do your research! The American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram journal, AromaWeb.com, and databases like ScienceDirect and PubMed Central are great resources. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital also offers an expert safety guide for using oils on kids.
If you’ve ever visited a spa or tried a “natural” perfume, then you’ve probably been exposed to essential oils. These fragrant oils are derived
from plants and have become a fad among health nuts, yoga practitioners, and even chefs.
Many devotees believe that a few drops of oil added to a diffuser, mixed with food, or rolled onto the wrist can do just about anything, like reduce anxiety and ward off the common cold. In 2019, the global essential oil market was valued at more than $7 billion, and sales are expected to soar above $14 billion by 2026. But there’s a catch: Some doctors now warn that essential oils are not a panacea — and they’re not as safe as they seem. What do the experts say? According to Rose Ann Gould Soloway, a clinical toxicologist at the National Capital Poison Center, essential oils can be safe and beneficial. However, they have harmful side effects when misused. Many oils can cause rashes and even poison users if they’re swallowed or rubbed directly onto the skin. In addition to this, incorrectly breathing in an essential oil can cause pneumonia.
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Apples — Your Dentures’ Worst Enemy?
3 Safe April Fools’ Pranks Your Kids Will Love
NOT NECESSARILY
DITCH THE DANGER AND PLAN FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN
Apples and similar foods have long been known as the enemy of dentures and the bane of bicuspids. But that’s an old story — and one that’s pretty out of date in today’s world. Bite into some facts about modern dental prosthetics and see why getting back your smile doesn’t mean giving up your favorite foods! As you go through life, it is common to need to replace missing teeth. It can be done in a number of ways, and most dentures or other prosthetics are not actually full sets of teeth, just replacements for the ones you need! Dentures require a relatively short amount of time to prepare, whereas permanent implant teeth can take longer. Of course, implants will feel more like your natural teeth and power through those tricky foods with ease. However, loose-fitting dentures are a myth of the past if you are working with a trusted dentist. And if you end up with partial dentures, some of your natural teeth will remain to help ease things along. One perk of dentures versus implants is cleaning, which is something many don’t consider. Even folks without prosthetics can sympathize with the aftermath of eating corn on the cob, which can drive you crazy! Popping out dentures to easily clean them is a true benefit. It’s usually faster and certainly easier to see what you’re doing! With an implant, cleaning is not always as easy, and it can even mean a trip to the dentist! The solution, for many people, is a mix of both options: implant-stabilized dentures. Instead of doing a whole mouthful of single-tooth implants — which can have financial drawbacks and requires a lot of time in the dental chair — a dentist will install several implants, then use those to keep dentures in place. It’s a great way to affordably get a very similar result, and we’re happy to report great things when it comes to tricky foods and implant- stabilized dentures. Apples beware!
Every year, a prankster makes headlines on April Fools’ Day for taking their joke too far. In 2001, a DJ in England famously broadcast that he’d spotted a replica of the Titanic floating off the coast. Hundreds of people scrambled to the spot, and their combined weight actually caused a cliff to collapse into the ocean! Luckily no one was hurt, but a Montana man who played a different joke years later wasn’t so lucky. He donned a Sasquatch outfit and leapt from the forest to scare travelers. Unfortunately, he traumatized two teens so much that they lost control of their car and ran him over. If you’re a prankster, you can probably understand what drove the radio DJ and Sasquatch to their doom. It’s easy to go down the April Fools’ rabbit hole and plan a prank that’s too elaborate for adults, let alone your kids. But don’t worry — the internet is full of funny ways to introduce your little ones to the holiday safely. Instead of concocting a potentially harmful prank, try one of these harmless jokes instead, courtesy of Parenting magazine. 1. The Undrinkable Juice You know what looks a lot like grape juice? Grape jello! To baffle your toddler (or even your 10-year-old), make a batch of jello and let it set in a juice glass. When they try to drink it later, enjoy the hilarity that ensues. 2. Rocks — It’s What’s for Dinner! If you want to confuse and horrify your kids, scatter chocolate rock candy (treats that look like real rocks) in the backyard before dinner. Then, when it’s time to eat, head outside and chow down on a handful of “rocks.” Your kids’ faces will be priceless! (Visit Nuts.com to score this candy for $8.99 per pound.) 3. Stinky Caramel ‘Apples’ Everyone loves caramel apples, but caramel-covered onions … not so much. This April Fools’ Day, swap the tasty fruit for its smelly vegetable counterpart and watch as everyone in the house falls for your trick! These are just a few pranks you can have up your sleeve for April Fools’ — or any day of the week. For even more hilarious ideas, check out the book “Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet!” from your local library.
Take a Break
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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Inside
DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
This Issue
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Relaxation Can Prevent Stress‑Related Oral Conditions Is Your Daughter a ‘VSCO Girl’? The Truth About Essential Oils — Are They Safe? 3 Safe April Fools’ Pranks Your Kids Will Love Are Apples Your Dentures’ Worst Enemy?
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Why Veneers Are Trending This Year
WHAT MAKES THEM WORTH THE HYPE? Veneers Are the Tooth Trend of the Year
veneers (thin glassy shells custom-made for your teeth) and composite resin veneers (filling material bonded to the tooth). Porcelain veneers are more expensive and time-consuming to get, but they last for 10–20 years with proper care, whereas most composite veneers need to be replaced after 5–7 years.
Some celebrities, like the singer-songwriter Jewel, are famous for their less-than-perfect teeth. But most stars have faultlessly white, straight smiles — and now, one of their favorite methods for getting those smiles is trending. The not-so-secret secret is simple: veneers. These wonders of cosmetic dentistry grace the mouths of hundreds of celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Zac Efron, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and George Clooney. They’re the perfect fix for chipped, stained, or gap-ridden teeth. And right now, they’re having a moment. In January, a BuzzFeed article called veneers “an essential accessory for influencers” and claimed “having a perfect white smile and shiny teeth is like the equivalent of having the latest designer bags these days.”
Are Veneers Really the Rolls Royces of Dentistry?
Because they’re beloved by celebrities, veneers have a pricey reputation, and it’s true that they cost more than a simple whitening treatment. However, veneers are less expensive than braces. They’re also highly customizable, so you can make the cost fit your budget. You can choose whether you want veneers on only your upper front teeth, or if you’d rather make your whole mouth sparkle. Full- mouth veneers are the most expensive and can cost upward of $10,000. However, many dentists also offer payment plans for these treatments. If you want to look like a Hollywood celebrity, give yourself (or your kids) a boost on social media, or simply find your superstar confidence, veneers could be the perfect trend to jump on for 2021. To get inspired, visit Seventeen.com and search “veneers” to scope out some dramatic celebrity before and afters.
But what exactly are veneers, and can you afford to jump on the bandwagon?
Your Veneer 411: Porcelain vs. Composite Resin Veneers are basically masks for your teeth: They adhere to the front of the tooth to cover up imperfections and give it a beautiful, glowing look. There are several kinds of veneers on the market, including porcelain
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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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