Tips for Overcoming Your Fear of the Dentist

Does thinking about going to the dentist strike fear in your heart? Do you keep rescheduling your upcoming dental appointments? Not only is ignoring dental visits and routine checkups and cleanings bad for your oral health, it’s not necessary when you come to Krengel Dental! We have created an office where you can relax. One of our top priorities is to keep our patients relaxed and pain free. We make sure that you’re properly numbed and comfortable before a procedure.

If you’re still having fear of the dentist, here are some tips that can help:

Tip #1: Ask your dentist to explain what is going to occur during your visit. Dr. Krengel is always happy to answer any questions you may have!

Tip #2: Talk with your dentist about your past experiences and fears. Open communication is important.

Tip #2: Ask you dentist about tools or sedation option to help you relax and calm your nerves.

Tip #4: Complete dental work over multiple visits. Begin with just an exam to make you feel comfortable with your surroundings at Krengel Dental.

Tip #5: Bring a friend or family member with you to your dental appointment.

Tip #7: Listen to music to help relax.

We have computers and satellite radio in our rooms so that you can choose to listen to music or watch movies on headphones or aloud. We know that for some people a trip to the dentist can seem like the worst hour of the year and we strive to change that and be the dental office you look forward to.

Above all: Relax! Our service is fast, friendly, and gentle. We also welcome questions so please feel free to call or connect with us online.

The Tongue and Its Role in Oral Health

The human body’s strongest muscle, the tongue, is also a heavyweight in your oral health. With over 10,000 taste buds, the tongue is responsible for identifying tastes and is a major indicator of health conditions depending on its color. A healthy tongue should be a pinkish color and generally smooth. Germs and bacteria often live on the tongue and can sometimes even become trapped. These germs can then lead to discoloration of the tongue or other symptoms like bad breath. 

Don’t ignore your tongue when it comes to daily cleaning!

Your tongue is covered in tiny bumps, called papillae. The surface of the tongue can harbor a lot of bacteria. The bacteria and trapped germs on the tongue can lead to bad breath, affect your sense of taste, and even travel to other parts of your mouth. Overgrowth of bacteria can turn your tongue yellow, white, or even black and hairy-looking! You should always be on the lookout for color changes in your tongue, as this can signify a problem.

Make it a habit to thoroughly clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You can use a tongue scraper, a small tool designed to scrape the tongue and get rid of bacteria and germs. Your regular toothbrush will also do the job. Use it to scrape your tongue all the way to the back of your mouth.

If dry mouth is an issue, brushing or using a tongue scraper may be difficult. To prep the tongue for this type of cleaning, a spray or mouth gel can be used to soften the residue and protect the muscle from tissue damage.

To maintain good oral hygiene, it is recommended to regularly examine your tongue and alert your dentist of any sores, cuts or colorations that are taking a long time to heal or go away. Visit West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for a checkup. Dr. Krengel also screens for oral cancer and many of the warning signs of oral cancer be discerned by the tongue. 

Oral Health: A Window To Your Overall Health

Good oral health is intrinsically related to one’s overall health. Just look at the facts:

• A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and summarized in the National Post newspaper showed that those reporting to brush less that once a day had a 65% increase in the incidence of dementia versus those who brushed daily.
• Because the mouth is a pathway to the body, people who have chronic gum disease are at a higher risk for heart attack, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)
• Up to 91% of patients with heart disease have periodontitis, or gum disease, according to WebMD.
• A study found that people who never or rarely brush their teeth are 70% more likely to suffer heart disease as those who brush twice a day. 
• A study found that by brushing your teeth, you are getting rid of bacteria and therefore decreasing your risk of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

Moral of the story: Visit West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for a regular checkup every 6 months, brush your teeth and floss twice a day, and contact Dr. Krengel if you have any concerns regarding your oral health!

The Daily Grind: How Grinding Your Teeth Can Cause Permanent Damage

Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time, most commonly at night while sleeping. Teeth grinding, medically referred to as bruxism, is not usually harmful but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis, the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.

Since grinding often occurs during sleep, you may be unaware you even grind your teeth. Here are some warning signs of teeth grinding:

• Dull, constant headache
• Sore jaw
• Loved one hearing you at night
• Stress
• Worn-down teeth

While it may not seem teeth grinding is doing much to your mouth, chronic grinding can have lasting effects including fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth and in extremes cases can affect your jaw, result in hearing loss, cause TMD/TMJ disorder (a disorder of the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw), and even change the appearance of your face.

To stop grinding your teeth, West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding during sleep.  There are different types of mouth guards that we can custom fit just for you! Some other tips to help you might be attending a stress counseling class, obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants, cutting back on foods and drinks that contain high amounts of caffeine, and relaxing your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek. Dr. Krengel can prescribe muscle relaxants and in some cases, we can use Botox to reduce the muscle tone of the muscles used in clenching to decrease pain and damage to the teeth!

Unsure if you’re grinding your teeth? Visit Krengel Dental for a consultation!