Pandemic Stress Relievers
What this pandemic has done to our teeth & what we can do to help you!
Feeling stress, anxiety, or even mild depression due to the current state of the world is not surprising. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), a tummy rub or a wagging tail can help alleviate some of that stress. In a survey conducted by the ADAA, 74% of pet owners reported mental health improvements from pet ownership. That special bond between an owner and their pet can help alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness and social isolation, which I know many of us were feeling acutely during quarantine earlier this year.
As much as I would love for a wet nose to be able to fix all our troubles, our beloved four-legged family members can’t help to reverse the many stress-related oral health conditions that have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), many dentists across the nation have seen a “rise in stress-related oral health conditions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.” There has been an increase in bruxism, which is the “involuntary habitual grinding of the teeth, typically during sleep,” by 59.4%. There has also been an increase in cracked and chipped teeth by 53.4% and a 26.4% increase in caries, also known as dental cavities. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, has also increased by 29.7%.
Have no fear! Roman Dental Arts is here for you! If you are waking up with headaches or sore teeth, it’s more than likely you’re grinding or clenching your teeth when you’re asleep without even realizing it. We can take impressions for a custom-fitting mouth guard to prevent you from using those muscles while you’re sleeping. Do you have a new cavity from some extra junk food intake? Not a problem! Let us take care of that for you before it gets any bigger. Roman Dental Arts can help with all your stress-induced dental troubles. We will work with you to reduce your worries and increase your overall oral health, so you can continue to cuddle with your furry family member in peace.