Anderson Dental Care December 2019

FINDING SOLUTIONS TO SLEEP BRUXISM AND JAW PAIN DAILY GRIND

Of the many seasonal traditions that sweep our nation, few are as creative, delicious, and satisfying as building your very own gingerbread house. Whether you’re looking to create a simple table decoration or bake a tasty treat to nibble on, everyone can enjoy this holiday activity! EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY TRADITION Ginger was first cultivated in ancient China, then traded into medieval Europe. There, Europeans incorporated it into culinary traditions and used it to bake cookies into elaborate shapes and works of art, including figures of animals and people. The gingerbread house first appeared in the early 19th century in Germany. Although historians don’t know an exact date, it’s speculated that it gained popularity around the same time that “Hansel and Gretel,” the popular fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm, was published. In 2013, the world record for the largest gingerbread house in the world was broken. The house, topping out at 21 feet and covering 2,520 square feet, was built by Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas, to raise money for a local Level II trauma center. To construct the house, builders created a recipe that required 1,800 pounds of butter, 2,925 pounds of brown sugar, 7,200 eggs, 7,200 pounds of flour, 1,080 ounces of ground ginger, and a few additional ingredients. THE LARGEST GINGERBREAD HOUSE THE JOY OF A GINGERBREAD HOUSE THE ORIGINS OF GINGERBREAD

Few things in life are more satisfying than crawling into a warm bed after a long day. But, for those who grind or clench their teeth while they sleep, one of life’s simplest and greatest pleasures may be dangerous to their oral health!

WHY AM I GRINDING MY TEETH?

There’s no medical reason for it, but sleep bruxism — the medical term for grinding or clenching your teeth as you sleep — puts hundreds of pounds of force on your teeth. Sleep bruxism has been linked to depression, heightened stress, and anxiety, and some believe this grinding or tension can be linked to the pressure you may be feeling every day! In addition, sleep bruxism is hereditary. If you’re a parent with sleep bruxism, bring your condition to the attention of your child’s dentist. Catching sleep bruxism early can limit its damage. Do you wake up with achy jaw muscles and suffer from chronic headaches? Do you struggle with fatigue, tooth sensitivity, or snoring? Then you might have sleep bruxism. While your teeth are comprised of the same strong minerals as your bones, they are still fragile. You may experience a fracture, crack, or irreparable damage to your tooth’s enamel. ( Note: ALL enamel loss is permanent!) Lastly, sleep bruxism can inflame temporomandibular joint disorders or jaw pain. Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for bruxism, but nightguards offer patients a painless solution by limiting the effects and pain of nightly grinding. At Anderson Dental Care, we can create a custom nightguard for you to wear each night. Nightguards are also sold in pharmacies, but the chances of these being comfortable and suitable for you are slim. And, if you are not comfortable with your nightguard, you will not wear it, causing further damage and pain to your jaw. Instead, we factor in the shape of your mouth, your bite, and your personal needs to create a nightguard you actually want to wear! Get fitted for a custom nightguard and stop the grinding by scheduling an appointment with Anderson Dental Care. Learn more about teeth grinding and other dental topics on our blog at Atowndental.com/blog. SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY SLEEP BRUXISM?

BUILD YOUR OWN!

While you don’t have to challenge yourself to beat the Guinness World Record, you can still have fun creating your very own gingerbread village. Starting your gingerbread house from scratch can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Give the kids a chance to mix

the ingredients, roll out the dough, and set out plenty of candies and frostings to use, and remember to have fun! If you’re looking for unique gingerbread house ideas, take a look at 20 gingerbread house ideas at TasteofHome.com/ collection/gingerbread-houses.

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