Effects of Stress on the Body & Mouth

It is time that you garden away the stress and cultivate a calmer you! Stress is incredibly harmful on the body and especially the mouth. It can manifest in teeth clenching and grinding, which can lead to Temoromandibular Joint Disorder, aka TMD. The clenching and grinding can also lead to cracked teeth, worn teeth, and other damage, which often requires tooth crowns or other fixes.

When it comes to TMD, it can become a very serious problem if it is not taken care of. It is an inflammation in the jaw joint; it affects up to 30 million North Americans – the majority of which are women. TMD can lead to:

• Earaches
• Headaches
• Jaw pain
• Tooth damage
• Gum trauma and disease

Why not try something to deal with the stress? One common way to help with stress is to do something calming, like gardening? You get lots of fresh air, exercise, communing with nature, and creating something truly wonderful and beautiful. It can greatly help your mind and reduce the stress hormone called cortisol.

Don’t have a green thumb? Try something else! You would much rather find a new hobby than spend thousands on dental services. However, if you are in need of dental services, then reach out to Rubino Dentistry.

Unexplained Head Pain? Talk with Your Dentist

Do you suffer from headaches? Ringing in the ears? Neck pain? Don't simply blame your exhaustion, migraines, or allergies! You may have Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD. This Manifests when inflammation of the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull is caused by clenching and grinding (often due to stress), an uneven bite, and even arthritis. 

TMD affects up to 30 million North Americans, and the majority of that crowd are women. 

What are the symptoms? 

• Earaches or headaches
• Popping or clicking sound when opening and closing your mouth
• Restricted jaw movements
• Having some pain in the lower face or jaw
• Pain in your neck, shoulders, or even your upper back

TMD an lead to other oral health problems such as gum disease, chewing problems, and damaged teeth. 

There is therapy that can be provided by your local dentist, such as use of oral appliances, medications to reduce inflammation and pain, and even alterations to your diet and daily routines. We will likely have to make a mention of this to your doctor due to other serious medical conditions that can stem from TMD. 

Every patient will have a customized plan for treatment from Dr. Ross Rubino. 

Do you or someone you know have any of these symptoms? Then chat with Dr. Rubino and explore your treatment options. 

Tips for Brightening a Tween's Smile

It can be tough to be a tween. Kids between the ages of 10-13 are in the no man's land between two worlds: adolescence and teenage years. Negative peer pressure take on a whole new meaning for people in this age range; it can be rough.

As a dentist in Park Ridge and father myself, I know what it can be like for kids to begin realizing their appearance matters, which includes their smiles. Adults can even start to worry about their tweens and the pressures of smoking and oral piercings being in the future. There are other less-visible gestures of independence that can threaten the oral health of your tween.

Do any of  these ring a bell?

• Sports and energy drinks
• Ditching lunch in favor of sugar-packed snacks
• Forgetting to brush in the morning or during sleepovers
• Forgetting to wear performance mouthguards during sports
• Using implements other than floss to clean between teeth

Poor goal hygiene can lead to things other than cavities, such as gum disease. It places your tween's self-esteem at risk. 

What can you do about it?

1. Take a deep breath. 
2. Offer choices like a cool electric toothbrush and toothpaste your child will want to use.
3. Practice what you preach; also practice good oral hygiene. 
4. Keep soda and sugary snacks to a minimum at home. Have chilled water (fluoridated, preferably) at home as well as veggies, fruits, and whole grains. 

Are you looking for a good general dental office in Chicagoland? Then contact Rubino Dentistry about any one of our dental services. 

The Risk of Oral Cancer for Men

The risk for oral cancer in men is increasing and has been on the rise for quite a while. The rates are not only increasing all over the world but especially in developed countries; the research for this trend is pointing to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

If you read the name Human Papilloma Virus and thought, "I've heard of that before but where?" or "Wait, isn't that disease for women?" Well, it does affect women a bit more but as we see, it has an impact on men too; the HPV is the sexually transmitted disease that is responsible for many cervical cancer cases. As for men, HPV infections increase male oral cancer by approximat
ely 50 percent and it is rising for women too. There is not vaccine for HPV for adults; however, health professionals recommend getting vaccines done for boys, in addition to girls.

Oral cancer take up to a decade to fully develop but early detection is possible and crucial. It often begins as a tiny, hard-to-detect white or red spot or sore that does not heal. Doctors state that the survival rate is about 80% for over 5 years when detected early.

Make sure to conduct self-exams between your dental visits to your dentist; if you are in Chicago, then contact Rubino Dentistry, a dentist in Chicago. At our dental practice in Chicagoland (Park Ridge), we conduct oral cancer exams at each visit. Keep your regular appointments.

3 Common Gum Problems People Experience

Common gum problems can be prevented, fixed, and even reversed! Not sure if you have common gum problems? Then let us ask you this: Does the appearance of your gums keep you from smiling?

If you answered yes, then you'll be glad to hear that some of the most common gum problems are preventable, treatable, and even some are reversible. As a Park Ridge dentist office, Rubino Dentistry is able to help you.

If your smile shows too much of your gums, not enough of your gums, or your gums are simply not looking their healthiest, there are solutions.

• Gummy smile: If you were born with a gummy smile, gum sculpting can expose more tooth surface, giving your smile more pleasant proportions! 
• Receding gums: Whether caused by tooth brushing or gum disease, a tissue graft can help prevent further recession and bone loss, cover roots, and reduce sensitivity, Receding gums require professional attention. 
• Swollen and/or bleeding gums: If your gums are inflamed, they should be examined for gum disease. You will respond better to treatment if the disease is caught sooner, rather than later. 

Gum disease can be prevented by a good brushing and flossing regimen and regular dental checkups. If it's already present or advanced, it can be very effectively treated to prevent further damage. For your sake of your health and your smile, take good care of your gums! 

If you are concerned about your gum health, then visit a Chicago dentist and have them get checked out! We would love to be your dental home. Visit our Park Ridge dental office. 

3 Great Tips to Save Your Smile

Science is exploring the use of breath, saliva, and blood samples from your mouth to establish your risk for some cancers, diabetes, and other health issues. THis illustrates how your oral health is intricately and importantly linked to the rest of your body. You can see that maintaining gum health can help you sustain your overall wellbeing as well as avoiding tooth loss, the great smile spoiler.

Here are 3 helpful tips…

1. How it starts. Normal bacteria creates a film called plaque on your teeth- you can feel this. If it build ups and hardens, your gums become inflamed and can eventually pull away from the tooth, leading to tooth loss and other health issues. 
2. What to look for. If you still have a sticky film on you teeth after brushing, you could need some instruction. Or, if flossing is becoming a challenge, then hardened plaque may be building up. Gums that are swollen or bleeding may be a sign of gum disease. 
3. What to do about it. Although daily brushing and flossing is the best prevention, dental visits can ensure that you have no plaque buildup. Since gum disease is easily treatable and can be reversed, especially when caught early, it is important to see us regularly! 

How long has it been since you've scheduled a dentist appointment? Schedule an appointment at our Park Ridge dental office, Rubino Dentistry, and keep your smile healthy! 

7 Diseases That Can Be Triggered by Gum Disease

No disease acts alone and gum disease is no exception. How can gum disease affect your body? In many ways, in fact, there are seven other diseases that can accompany gum disease.

Did you know that gingivitis can affect up to 75 percent of us in our lifetime? In fact, many medical studies show that 30 percent of us may actually be genetically predisposed to developing it.

Gum disease is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene, gum disease can progress to periodontitis, a chronic infection of the gums. This is because it can advance without giving off any symptoms, it is sometimes called the "silent disease". Why is this a cause for concern? IT's suspected that periodontal disease sets off the body's inflammatory response and can exacerbate symptoms of other serious inflammatory diseases.

So what are the other diseases?

• heart disease
• stroke
• cancer
• respiratory disease
• osteoporosis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• diabetes

This is why you shouldn't skip your regular dental checkups during which we can monitor your oral health effectively. If you're expecting a child or considering becoming pregnant, check in with us at our Park Ridge dental office as gum disease has been linked to pregnancy complications such as premature birth.

It is essential that you practice good home care and visit Rubino Dentistry for regular checkups. Call us today and get an appointment scheduled. We at Rubino, a Chicago dental office, are here to help you take care of your oral health and overall health.