10 Ways Stress Can Impact Your Teeth

You know that stress can manifest as a headache, muscle tension, or high blood pressure, but have you ever considered how stress can impact your teeth? Here are 10 of the most commonly reported dental health issues linked to stress.

1. Tooth grinding: Also known as bruxism, nighttime tooth grinding is a common condition, especially among stressed individuals. The unconscious habit wears down your teeth over time and may also cause tooth shifting and jaw pain.
2. Tooth fractures: Teeth have tiny fissures in them due to everyday wear and tear. As long as they don’t become any worse, these fissures are no problem. Unfortunately, jaw clenching and stress go hand-in-hand, causing weak teeth to eventually fracture and break.
3. Sensitivity: Nighttime grinding and daytime clenching can wear down the protective enamel layer, leaving your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures and sweet and sour foods.
4. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain: The TMJ is the joint connecting each side of your jaw to your skull. Pain or dysfunction in this joint is known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. Stress-related tooth grinding, jaw clenching, and muscle tension may cause or aggravate TMD.
5. Gum disease: Some studies suggest a link between the stress hormone cortisol and bacterial growth that leads to gum disease, also called periodontal disease. This chronic oral health problem can cause gum sensitivity, bad breath, and eventually tooth loss.
6. Cold sores: Also called fever blisters, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Being upset or stressed can trigger an outbreak at the corners of your mouth, which may take a week or more to clear up.
7. Canker sores: These painful mouth sores make it difficult to eat spicy, salty, or acidic foods. Experts aren’t sure what causes canker sores, also called recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), but it appears that stress increases your risk.
8. Oral infections: Stress negatively impacts your immune system, making you more vulnerable to low-grade infections in your mouth and elsewhere in your body.
9. Dry mouth: Formally known as xerostomia, dry mouth is when your salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva. Among other causes, stress and anxiety have been shown to decrease saliva production, causing dry mouth.
10. Bad oral health habits: Stressed-out people are often exhausted or pressed for time, making them more likely to neglect their oral health, as well as rely on cigarettes, alcohol, and unhealthy comfort food. All of these habits increase the risk of cavities, gum disease, and other concerns.

Don’t allow stress to wreak havoc on your dental health! Instead, take steps in your daily life to reduce anxiety, such as meditating, doing yoga, and working on your time management skills. Then, fit dentist visits into your busy schedule to keep on top of oral health problems as they arise. To work with the best dentist in New York, contact Park 56 Dental at (212) 826-2322. We have served patients in the 10022 zip code area for over 20 years.

The Best and Worst Thanksgiving Foods for Your Teeth

When you go to plan your Thanksgiving dinner menu, how do you decide what to serve? Most people opt for traditional family favorites, perhaps with a new dish or two to try. But if you or someone in your family is struggling with oral health issues, it may be wise to choose foods based on how good they are for your teeth and gums. Here are some of the best and worst foods to eat for Thanksgiving if you’re focused on good oral health.

Limit These Worst Thanksgiving Foods for Your Teeth

• Stuffing and rolls: They may be Thanksgiving staples, but the sugary carbohydrates in stuffing and rolls feed the bacteria in your mouth. The acids left behind can then erode your teeth and lead to cavities.
• Cranberry sauce: Loaded with sugar and tooth-staining berries, cranberry sauce is known to discolor enamel and encourage cavities to form.
• Pies and desserts: Most people enjoy a slice of pumpkin or pecan pie and other desserts after Thanksgiving dinner. Keep in mind that sugar turns into acid in your mouth, making it your teeth’s worst enemy.
• Caramel corn: Popcorn is bad enough, but cover it with sticky caramel, and you have a recipe for dislodged crowns and lost fillings.
• Alcohol: The acid in wine is enough to etch your teeth if you drink it too often, so be wise about your alcohol consumption this Thanksgiving.

If you must indulge in these Thanksgiving foods, do so sparingly. Then, to remove particles from your mouth, rinse with water throughout the meal and brush your teeth 30 minutes after your last bite.

Eat More of These Best Thanksgiving Foods for Your Teeth

• Turkey: Good news—the quintessential Thanksgiving food is perfectly fine for your teeth! Turkey doesn’t contain starch or sugar that can harm your oral health, and it’s also an excellent source of vitamin D and protein to support a healthy smile.
• Vegetables: Carrots, celery, cucumbers, and tomatoes are a healthy addition to your Thanksgiving feast. Veggies are chockfull of vitamins and nutrients that promote good oral health. The act of chewing them also scrubs your teeth, massages your gums, and stimulates saliva flow.
• Sweet potatoes: Feel free to load your plate with sweet potatoes because they’re high in potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin B6. Just be careful about the brown sugar or marshmallows often served with them.
• Cheese and nuts: Munch on these snacks guilt-free, knowing they’re filled with calcium, protein, and other nutrients your teeth need to stay healthy and strong.

If you notice stained, yellowed, or aching teeth around the holidays, don’t put off visiting the dentist. A trip to Park 56 Dental will leave your teeth feeling cleaner and brighter. Voted NYC’s best dentist, we are well-equipped to meet all your preventative and restorative dentistry needs. Give us a call at (212) 826-2322 to set up an appointment today! We have been serving patients in the 10022 zip code area since 1997.

How to Reverse Cavities

No one wants to hear their dentist say, “You have a cavity.” The key to good oral health and a cavity-free mouth is to understand why cavities form so you can take steps to prevent and reverse them.

What Causes Cavities?

Cavities are the result of untreated tooth decay, which occurs when your teeth are repeatedly exposed to acid and bacteria. Your diet and oral care routine play a significant role in the formation of cavities. When you eat sugary or starchy foods, a sticky substance called plaque forms on your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth feed on this plaque, producing acid as a waste product. This acid then eats away at your teeth.

Tooth decay occurs in five stages:

• Demineralization: Your teeth lose and regain minerals all day long. The problem occurs when depleted minerals are not restored.
• Enamel decay: The outer layer of your teeth decays first.
• Dentin decay: As the problem spreads to the dentin layer, you may start to feel pain.
• Pulp decay: Pain and inflammation can become severe if decay reaches the inner pulp of your teeth.
• Abscesses: When bacteria inside a cavity spread beneath the pulp, a pocket of pus can form, causing a painful abscess.

Signs of Cavities

Watch out for these signs that your teeth are starting to decay:

• White spots on your teeth (a sign of mineral loss)
• Grey, black, or brown spots on your teeth (a sign of decay)
• Toothaches
• Painful chewing
• Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet substances
• Pits or holes in your teeth (detectable through an X-ray)

How to Prevent and Reverse Cavities

By the time a cavity is noticeable, it may be too late to reverse the damage naturally. However, with the proper care, you can prevent cavities and even help early tooth decay heal on its own. Here’s what to do:

• Improve your nutrition: Replace sugary, starchy, and acidic foods with those rich in calcium, vitamins B and D, magnesium, and iron.
• Keep up your oral care routine: Remove bacteria-feeding plaque from your mouth by brushing your teeth morning and night, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with mouthwash.
• Remineralize your teeth: Fluoride is the key to preventing mineral loss and replacing lost minerals. You can get fluoride from toothpaste, mouthwash, tap water, prescription fluoride tablets, and in-office fluoride treatments.
• Visit the dentist every six months: Dentists help prevent cavities by providing routine checkups and cleanings. They can also reverse cavities with fillings, crowns, root canals, and implants. These dental restorations are usually covered by insurance.

To keep your mouth cavity-free, be sure to visit Park 56 Dental, the best dentist in New York. We have more than 20 years of experience pampering our patients in a spa-like setting. For more oral care tips or to schedule a free consultation with our NYC dentist, please call us at (212) 826-2322 or contact us online.

How to Prevent Cracking Your Teeth

Your bite produces massive amounts of pressure, as much as 5,600 pounds per square inch. Teeth structure is amazingly resistant to this pressure and able to withstand a compressive force of approximately 30,000 pounds. But when you introduce foods and non-foods that are excessively hard, teeth can crack under the pressure. Tiny cracks in your teeth can put you at risk for deeper, more serious cracks and the introduction of dangerous bacteria into the tooth openings. Learn how to prevent cracks in your teeth so you can safeguard your smile for years to come!

Abstain from Foods that Could Injure Your Teeth

While teeth can withstand some tremendous forces, avoid adding extra stress by using them in proper ways. One of the most common ways teeth are damaged are from the foods and non-foods you eat or chew on. Common culprits for teeth cracks include:

• Ice
• Popcorn
• Frozen foods
• Hard candies
• Pens or pencils

If any of these foods or non-foods are a part of your daily routine, consider making some changes to protect your oral health.

Get Treatment for Teeth Grinding or Clenching

Twenty percent of Americans grind their teeth, a condition called bruxism, which is often accompanied by teeth clenching as well. Most people aren’t conscious of this stress-induced condition since it often occurs while they are sleeping. If teeth grinding isn’t treated it can lead to chips, breaks, and cracks in teeth overtime. A custom nightguard by your dentist can help treat the effects of teeth grinding.

Wear a Sports Mouthguard During Athletic Activities

Athletes are also at risk for teeth cracks from impact injuries during activities. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports that only 22 percent of children wear mouthguards while playing sports. A sports mouthguard can protect teeth from this dangerous source of oral trauma.

Park 56 Dental offers restorative dentistry to repair and prevent cracks in your teeth so cracks don’t jeopardize the health of a tooth or adjacent teeth. Contact us today at (646) 679-3989 if you have any questions about the stability of your teeth. Your health and well-being are our top priority

How Your Teeth Impacts the Rest of Your Face

Facial symmetry is a leading factor in what makes you look like you. Maximizing the symmetry of your face not only makes you look better, it makes you feel better as all the interior structures of your mouth and jaw coordinate together. This delicate balance of teeth and jaw functionality depends on the health of your teeth. Learn how missing teeth affect the shape of your face to motivate you in your efforts for professional preventive dental care and proper oral hygiene.

Teeth Shape and Health Make a Big First Impression

Teeth shape and health are felt on a physical and emotional level. How you feel about your smile directly influences your self-esteem. Missing teeth makes eating challenging while also affecting the health of your jaw.

Teeth Affect Face Shape and Symmetry

Teeth support the length of the face and the anatomy of the jawbone. Shorter teeth from frequent tooth grinding can trigger facial asymmetry. A collapsing bite propels the jaw forward resulting in a sunken, hollow facial appearance.

Shifting teeth can cause a once symmetrical smile to become uneven. These shifts can shorten the length of the face and lead to a deeper bite.

Abscessed Teeth Can Affect Your Sinuses and Trigger Bone Loss

The roots of your molars are separated from your maxillary sinuses by extremely thin bone. Infected teeth and gums can spread infection into your sinuses through this pathway, impacting your entire face. Although rare, abscessing teeth can destroy facial bones. If bone health is compromised, bone strength and size is reduced which affects your overall facial aesthetic.

Missing Teeth Can Cause the Face to Cave In

While having a single missing tooth won’t alter your appearance much, it can lead to teeth shifts and changes which directly affect your facial structure. Teeth uphold the shape of your face by:

• Supporting jaw alignment.
• Maintaining facial balance.
• Preventing bone deterioration and jaw atrophy.
• Preserving lip shape by buoying the surrounding muscles.
• Averting jaw fractures and tooth loss from jaw weakness.

Teeth prevent your jaw from shrinking in size. They separate the two jawbones and add length to your face. Teeth roots stimulate the jawbone when you chew. When teeth are missing, the bone of the jawbone doesn’t get exercised properly causing it to disintegrate and atrophy. The lack of the former bone size causes the face to take on a recessed, shriveled appearance.

If you need help bettering your dental health and filling gaps in your smile the dentists at Park 56 Dental have the expertise you require. Contact us today at (646) 679-3989 to learn about your options with cosmetic, restorative, or general dentistry.

How to Care for Yourself After a Dental Procedure

Root canals, tooth extractions, and dental implants are common smile restorations that require some recovery time. Choosing an experienced oral surgeon is the first step toward ensuring a comfortable recovery.

At Park 56 Dental, we offer sedation dentistry to make your time in the dentist’s chair as comfortable as possible. We also review the recommended aftercare with you before you undergo any procedure, so you know exactly what to expect during your recovery. And if you have any urgent questions for us, rest assured that we answer emergency calls 24 hours a day.

Here are some general aftercare tips we recommend to take care of yourself after a dental procedure.

• Take it easy: Take time off school or work and rest at home. Avoid physical exertion for two to three days, and keep your head propped up with pillows to reduce inflammation.
• Apply ice packs: Ice helps to numb any localized pain and brings the swelling down. Throughout the first recovery day, apply a towel-wrapped ice pack for 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off.
• Leave gauze pads in place: Wait for three or four hours to remove any gauze pads your oral surgeon put in your mouth. This helps minimize bleeding and helps the surgical area clot properly.
• Eat soft food: Stick to a liquid or soft-food diet for a few days. Chilled soup, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, yogurt, smoothies, milkshakes, and ice cream are all good options.
• Avoid hot foods and drinks: Wait until the local anesthesia wears off completely to eat or drink anything hot so you don’t accidentally burn your tongue or the roof of your mouth.
• Don’t drink through a straw: Suction in the mouth can dislodge the blood clot from the treated area, leading to a painful condition called dry socket. To prevent this, don’t drink from a straw for three days after oral surgery.
• Take medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help make your recovery more comfortable. If your oral surgeon prescribes antibiotics, take those as directed as well.
• Rinse with salt water: 24 hours after your procedure, rinse gently with warm saltwater. A good ratio is one-half teaspoon salt per one-half cup of water. Rinse after every meal and snack to help remove food particles from around the surgical area.
• Brush carefully: Avoid brushing the treated area until it has fully healed, but continue to brush the rest of your teeth.
• Don’t smoke or drink alcohol: These habits can interfere with the healing process, so avoid them for at least 24 hours. Better yet, quit smoking and always limit your alcohol intake to improve your overall health.

If you’re looking for skilled dental care and oral surgery in NYC, you’ve come to the right place. Park 56 Dental has been voted NYC’s best dentist, so why would you go anywhere else for your next dental procedure? To learn more about our services, please call us at (212) 826-2322 or contact us online today.

How to Prevent Gum Recession

Receding gums are a common oral health problem. You know your gums are receding if you have less gum tissue than you used to and your teeth look longer than normal. What you’re seeing is the exposed tooth root, which may be sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Gum tissue doesn’t grow back, so it’s important to prevent gum recession before it’s too late.

• Brush your teeth gently: It’s a misconception that the more aggressively you brush, the cleaner your teeth become. Not only does vigorous brushing wear down tooth enamel, but it also irritates your gums. Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush, and be careful about how much pressure you use when brushing each morning and night.
• Floss daily: Flossing targets the hard-to-reach places between your teeth and along the gum line. Scraping away plaque and stubborn food particles from these areas is critical to keep your gums healthy and prevent them from receding.
• Stop smoking: Tobacco use of any kind is horrible for your oral health. It leaves a sticky film in your mouth that can cause gum recession if not removed thoroughly. Stop smoking to promote gum health, prevent tooth stains, and reduce the risk of oral cancer.
• Eat a nutritious diet: Gum tissue, like the rest of your body, needs adequate vitamins and minerals for optimum health. Some of the best foods for a healthy smile include apples, carrots, leafy greens, plain yogurt, and almonds.
• Wear a mouthguard: Do you grind your teeth at night? If you’re not sure, your dentist can diagnose this condition, known as bruxism. Then, you can look into getting a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and gums while you sleep.
• Straighten your smile: Crooked teeth and a misaligned bite place excess pressure on your jawbone and gums, making gum recession more likely. Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth and keep your gums healthy.
• Avoid mouth piercings: Lip and tongue rings are a surefire way to irritate your gums and cause them to recede. So play it safe and stick to ear piercings to keep your mouth free of foreign objects.
• Visit the dentist: The American Dental Association recommends that most people visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. During your exam, a hygienist will remove tartar and plaque from your teeth that can irritate the gums. Your dentist will also check for signs of recession and offer personalized tips to prevent the problem from getting any worse.

If you notice receding gums or other signs of gum disease, reach out to Park 56 Dental. We’ve been voted the best dentist in NYC, so you can rest assured that our team will take great care of you. We offer effective treatments to help slow or even reverse gum disease and recession, including root planing and scaling, flap surgery, and bone and tissue grafts. To learn more, please call us at (212) 826-2322 or contact us online today.

Why Should You See a Cosmetic Dentist?

Are you unhappy with your teeth? If you find yourself covering your mouth when you laugh and smiling with closed lips for photos, you could benefit from seeing a cosmetic dentist. While general dentistry aims to preserve oral health, a cosmetic dentist focuses on improving the way your smile looks and feels. Here are the top reasons to see a cosmetic dentist.

• Yellow, stained teeth: Years of eating and drinking tooth-staining foods and beverages can leave your teeth looking yellow and dull. Fortunately, extrinsic stains like these are easy to remove with Zoom!® in-office whitening. In less than an hour, your teeth will be several shades whiter. Use at-home whitening products between visits to help your look last as long as possible.
• Discoloration: Intrinsic tooth discoloration can’t be corrected with whitening. Fortunately, you still have options! Veneers, or tooth-colored shells adhered to the front of your teeth, may be the best choice for giving your smile a bright new look.
• Uneven teeth: If your teeth have worn unevenly, they may now appear pointy, jagged, or misshapen. They may even be different sizes or lengths. Tooth reshaping/contouring is the cosmetic dentistry solution to this problem. With a specially designed tool, the dentist can gently reshape your uneven teeth for a more aesthetically pleasing smile.
• Missing teeth: Whether you had an infected tooth extracted or a traumatic injury left you with a gap in your smile, you can fill the hole with dental bridges or implants. A bridge anchors to dental crowns installed on the two adjacent teeth, while implants are self-supporting fixtures that mount directly to your jawbone.
• Broken, chipped, or fractured tooth: When a tooth is damaged, it’s important to act quickly to save it. Your options include dental crowns, veneers, and bonding (applying composite resin to the surface of the tooth to repair it).
• Cavities: Tooth decay can lead to cavities, which require a filling. If you currently have amalgam (metal) fillings, you can replace them with tooth-colored fillings made of composite or porcelain. This way, you can smile as wide as you want without anyone noticing your dental restorations.
• Crooked teeth: If you want a straighter smile, but you don’t want metal braces, consider what Invisalign® has to offer! The clear, plastic aligners are virtually invisible, gradually shifting your teeth into the desired position without anyone even knowing you have braces.
• Gummy smile: Excess gum tissue can affect your self-confidence and discourage you from smiling. Luckily, this condition is treatable using techniques such as dental crown lengthening, orthodontics, and oral surgery.

If you’re ready to enhance your smile, visit Park 56 Dental, the best cosmetic dentist in New York. We provide an array of personalized treatments designed to restore your self-confidence, many of which can be completed in one office visit. For more information about cosmetic dentistry, or to schedule a free consultation, please call us at (212) 826-2322 or contact us online today.

How to Find the Perfect Dentist

When you’re looking for a dentist, the number of options available can be overwhelming. Factor in anxiety about going to the dentist, and it’s easy to see how finding a dentist could seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry! We’ve got some tips to help you find the perfect dentist for you and your family.

• Ask people you trust. Word of mouth can be the most effective way to find the right dentist. Make a list of dentists recommended to you by family members, close friends, co-workers, and your primary care physician. Don’t worry too much about whether the dentists are in your network; you can often maximize your insurance benefits out of network. Armed with your list, you can begin to narrow the search.
• Find a full-service dentist. Don’t choose a dental practice with limited specializations. Rather, look for one who performs a wide range of services, all in one practice. You don’t want to have to go through the process again when you need a different kind of dental work.
• Check the dentist’s credentials. Make sure your dentist is board certified and has a current state license as well as a clean disciplinary history. Healthgrades.com and your state website will have information about your dentist’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history. Look for solid credentials and plenty of experience.
• Read online reviews but don’t put too much stock in them. Patient reviews can give some insight into how the dental practice is operated. On the other hand, online reviews can be manipulated. Read them, taking note of what patients have to say, but pay special attention to the dentist’s responses to the reviews. If the dental practice responds in a positive way to online reviews, regardless of whether the review is positive or negative, it indicates that the dentists in the practice care about their patient.
• Tour the office. While you’re there, ask questions about things like office hours, technology, the dentists’ training, continuing education, their approach to preventive dentistry, emergency appointments, and financing. Note the cleanliness of the office, friendliness of the staff, and willingness to answer questions.
• Think about your personal preferences. Do you prefer a dentist of a certain gender? Are telehealth appointments important to you? Which dental services do you believe you’ll need most often? Is flexible scheduling a priority for you? When you meet a dentist who checks all the boxes and makes you feel comfortable, that’s probably the perfect dentist for you!

If you’re looking for the perfect dentist, choose the practice that was voted best dentist in NYC! At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.

Why it’s Important to tell your Dentist about Allergies or Medical Conditions

When you go to see your dentist, you do it to take care of your teeth. That being the case, there’s no need to talk to your dentist about the rest of your body, right? Wrong. There are some very important reasons to tell your dentist about allergies and other medical conditions you may have. Here are some medical issues you should be discussing with your dentist.

• Allergies: It’s particularly important to tell your dentist about any allergies to medications or a latex allergy, since dentists use medicines and latex products when treating you. Other allergies could be important as well. If you have skin that is reactive to certain non-precious metals, it could indicate a metal allergy. If you were to get a metal filling, it could become a complicated problem. Provide your dentist with a full list of your allergies, and if any new allergies arise, amend the list.
• Bacterial Infections: Bacteria from an infection can get into your blood and travel throughout the body, even affecting the mouth. An infection in your body can cause problems in your mouth, so your dentist needs to know about any infections and how they’re being treated.
• Heart Trouble: Your dental medication and procedures can have an impact on your cardiovascular health, but heart disease can also put you at a higher risk for oral issues like periodontal disease. If you have a heart condition or you’ve had a heart-related treatment or procedure, tell your dentist. Information your doctor needs to know includes things like artificial heart valves, transplant issues, heart surgery, pacemakers, and endocarditis.
• Pregnancy: If you’re pregnant, your dentist may want to change some things about treating you, like the frequency of x-rays.
• Chronic Conditions: Asthma and other breathing problems should be reported to your dentist. Epilepsy is another condition your dentist should be aware of. Essentially, any condition that might have an effect on medication your dentist uses in treating you should be reported.
• New Medication: Some medicines cause symptoms like decreased saliva production, tooth sensitivity, and trouble with your oral soft tissues. Any medication, whether over the counter or prescribed, is something your doctor should know about.
• Surgeries: Surgery increases your risk of infection, so let your doctor know if you’ve had any recent surgeries.
• Potentially Hazardous Habits: Lifestyle habits like drinking alcohol or using tobacco are important for your dentist to know. Regular drinking increases the risk of tooth decay, and tobacco use has been linked to many oral health issues. Be specific about your lifestyle choices because some things affect your mouth more than others. Chewing tobacco, for instance, has a different impact than cigarettes. Occasional drinking affects your mouth differently from daily drinking.

At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.