Could stress be destroying your smile? According to professionals in dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale, it could be! Stress, anxiety and the build-up of all those daily deadlines and responsibilities have been shown to share a link with our physical health and well-being. But this is nothing new; we are all aware of the physical implications of a stressed psychological state. However, if you lead a particularly stressed lifestyle, the days of your beautiful smile may be numbered according to esthetics dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale!

Stress, anger and frustration – both physical and psychological – can cause you to clench and grind your teeth, say experienced professionals in dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale. This can happen during the day and night and is often done subconsciously. Over time, Bruxism can cause the enamel of the teeth to become completely worn away, revealing the softer dentin underneath. This substance erodes far quicker than the tooth enamel, which subsequently renders the entire structure incredibly vulnerable to cavities and decay. This is not to mention the cosmetic appearance of teeth that have been ground down to nubs, say those in esthetics dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale.

The Dentist Recommends: A mouthguard (custom made for you) at night will prevent your teeth from sustaining damage from a result of jaw clenching and tooth grinding. This should protect the enamel of the teeth, and the overall quality of your smile, from the physical manifestations of stress.

Although the connection between the development of mouth sores (such as canker sores and fever blisters) and stress is not quite clear, those practicing dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale report that patients who lead a more stressful lifestyle show a greater susceptibility. These small ulcers can appear both inside the mouth and on or around the lips. They are painful and can completely distract your audience from the quality of your smile.

Esthetics Dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale Recommends: There are prescription anti-viral medications and plenty of over-the-counter creams that can be used to treat and soothe cold sores and fever blisters.

A stressful lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with irregular eating habits and even poor oral hygiene. All those late nights and early mornings, hectic deadlines, multiple cups of coffee and rushed lunches can take a definite toll on the health of your pearly whites, say the professionals in dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale. During a busy day of work it can be very difficult to discipline yourself to brush your teeth after meals or to drink water after a sugary drink (which is what you should be doing, according to the standards set by esthetics dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale). At night, people can go to bed so exhausted that they forget to floss and even brush their teeth.

• Take a toothbrush or anti-bacterial mouthwash with you to work and use it after a sugary drink or lunch,

• Make a point of sitting down at lunch for a proper healthy meal (no take-out food… and don’t rush it!)

• If you want to keep your smile healthy and beautiful by avoiding tooth discoloration and staining, limit your coffee and tea intake during the day,

• Drink water instead of fruit juice and energy drinks.

• Quit smoking! Find a different coping mechanism and one that won’t destroy your teeth, gums and general health!

A busy life and ambitious career should never keep you from the things that are important in life. Your oral health is a gift that should not be wasted, say the professionals in esthetics dentistry in Ft. Lauderdale. Because once your beautiful smile is lost to discoloration, decay and gum disease, it takes a lot of time, money, pain and emotional expense to get it back!