HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED if you grind your teeth? You're pretty sure that you don't, yet somehow you're almost positive you do. How can this be? It's not like you wouldn't know if you were grinding your teeth hard enough to wear them or even break them. Right?
Grinding your teeth at night has a funny name…Bruxism.
Comfort Dental would like to spend a little time talking about bruxism, which is an unconscious grinding of the teeth while sleeping. Many people experience this grinding.
Here is another funny word…parafunctional. Night teeth grind is considered a parafunctional habit because it serves no useful purpose. The common use of teeth and jaws is for eating, swallowing and speaking...not for grinding against one another while you sleep!
What Causes Bruxism? Can You Just Will Yourself to Stop?
It is thought that bruxism is related to or caused by stress, diet, sleeping habits and even the use of alcohol or other drugs.
Bruxism is unwittingly “triggered” by the inner you that makes sure you breathe, digest food, and your heart beats. This internal engine is your autonomic nervous system. Just like you can’t decide not to digest your food for a while, you cannot will yourself not to clinch your teeth at night. Furthermore, it probably won't wake you up. It could wake up your spouse or cat, 
but you'll probably sleep right through it!
Bruxism is super chewing muscle exercises – so it is sort of like sleepwalking (or running!) on a treadmill while you sleep. The activity of nighttime grinding can actually cause your chewing muscles to become larger like a body builder! The tooth grinding that you do at nighttime is actually much stronger than any chewing or grinding you can do consciously when you are awake. (If only useful exercise could be done so easily!)
So, once you fall asleep and the gloves come off and you can grind really hard - significant tooth wear and even tooth breakage can occur. Things are only made worse for people who have acid problems due to gastric reflux or diet. This additional acid in the mouth can speed up the wear of teeth even more when grinding teeth at night.
Many people who have been grinding their teeth throughout their lifetime can have significantly shortened front teeth and worn or broken back teeth by the time they reach their 40s and 50s.
Protect Your Teeth from Clinching
There's no way to cure bruxism. If you're one who grinds your teeth hard at night you might consider having Dr. Brucken or Dr. Stubbs fit you for a protective appliance at night time. An appliance like this won't stop tooth grinding, but it can protect your teeth from damage and potentially help you to grind your teeth with less intensity.
Here is a helpful video that explains further how your teeth can be protected.
Are you worried about night time tooth grinding? If you want to be evaluated Comfort Dental can help! In fact, we would like to be your Lafayette dental office! Feel free to call the office at 765-742-3100, request an appointment online or ask a question. Even if we can't stop your teeth's nightly exercise, we can help by adding a cushion!
COMFORT DENTAL IS PLEASED TO OFFER a revolutionary way to detect and find cavities. The DIAGNOdent laser allows us an additional way to find cavities and replace them with an innovative means of early detection.
How it works...
DIAGNodent technology allows Comfort Dental to detect tooth decay earlier. It works by using a laser diode to inspect your teeth. It compares reflection wavelength against a healthy baseline wavelength to uncover tooth decay. The benchmark reading is taken by aiming the laser onto a healthy enamel tooth surface and then the laser is directed into all suspect areas.
Comfort Dental’s goal is to find cavities when they are small shallow and simpler fillings. This means the filling is more conservative removing less of your tooth structure, and providing an additional means of monitoring suspicious areas. Detecting cavities earlier also minimizes the aesthetic impact of decay and the expense of more complicated treatment, helping you to better care for your smile.
Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs are dedicated to helping you and your family have healthy smiles for a lifetime. Investing in dental technologies, like the DIAGNodent dental laser, help Comfort Dental reach its mission every day.
Please let us know if you have any dental questions or need advice. We are here to serve you and look forward to seeing you soon!
COMFORT DENTAL WANTS TO ENSURE THE BEST – most conservative – approach is taken to keep your teeth healthy. What do we mean by conservative? Well, when one of your teeth has decay or has broken down in some way – we want to preserve as much of the healthy tooth structure as possible.
You Might Be More Familiar with Dental Fillings or Crowns
Teeth get decay, cracked, and fractured – sometimes it’s as simple as a filling. Other times - a dental crown is needed to fit over the tooth like a glove holding the tooth structure together.
A MIDDLE GROUND IN TOOTH REPAIR
Think of dental inlays and onlays as the happy medium between a filling and a dental crown. Inlays and onlays are a great alternative when rear teeth have moderate decay or are cracked or fractured – yet the damage is not severe enough to require a dental crown. The point of seeking this solution is to help preserve more of the healthy tooth structure that remains.
Inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain, composite resin, and sometimes even from gold. Because they can be created from tooth-colored materials, inlays and onlays can be used to replace metal dental fillings for patients who desire a more natural looking smile.
DENTAL INLAYS
Dental inlays are used to treat teeth that have decay or damage lying within their indented top surfaces, between the cusps of the teeth.
DENTAL ONLAYS
Dental onlays are used to treat decay or fracture that extends to one or more of the tooth’s cusps.
Patients at Comfort Dental benefit from the straight-forward, honest approach that both Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs take as they help their patients maintain healthy smiles for a lifetime.
Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs' philosophy of providing extraordinary dentistry in an inspiring atmosphere - means considering the very best option for your individual teeth. Sometimes your situation can allow for a more conservative middle ground in tooth repair. In that case, the dentists will discuss inlays and onlays as part of your dental repair option.
The entire team at Comfort Dental appreciates the opportunity to serve you and your family. We look forward to seeing you soon!
AT COMFORT DENTAL, WE CARE ABOUT EVERY aspect of your oral health – one unfortunate reality is no matter how careful we are sometimes life hands us emergencies! Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs would like to touch on dental emergencies for a minute…
LET’S START WITH A RECENT EMERGENCY EXAMPLE…
Hopefully, when you have a dental emergency you won’t be working in a remote location in Alaska and break-off your front tooth with a wrench - have infection, swelling, and pain.
This unfortunate situation occurred to one of Dr. Brucken’s established patients recently. This patient was able to use our “Established Patient – Dentist Contact Form” and reach Dr. Brucken over the weekend.
Not only did we get a prescription for the infection called into the nearest pharmacy in Alaska – hours away from the remote job location – we also immediately made an appointment for this patient, who will come directly to our office from the airport as he arrives back in Indiana.
DENTAL EMERGENCIES ARE NO MINOR THING
Depending on the situation, if you are having a severe emergency, please go to the nearest urgent care or emergency facility for assistance.
With that said, we want to make sure our established patients with current dental histories in our office know that they can reach our dentists even when the office is closed, just like our patient in remote Alaska did.
Remember, a dental injury to your teeth or gums should not be ignored as it can be potentially serious—with risks of more permanent damage, OR more extensive (and expensive) repair down the road.
HERE ARE SOME OF COMFORT DENTAL’S THOUGHTS ABOUT COMMON DENTAL EMERGENCIES:
- Toothache? Rinse with warm water and be sure nothing is lodged. Apply an ice pack if needed to reduce the swelling, and call us as soon as possible. We probably need to take a look.
- Chipped & Broken Tooth? Although it may seem sort of odd, save the pieces of the tooth if you can. Apply gauze pressure if you’re bleeding. See us as soon as you can.
- A Knocked Out Tooth? “Time is of the essence” in trying to save a tooth. (watch the video below)
- A Dislodged Tooth? Apply a cold compress to help if there’s pain. Take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed. Call Comfort Dental and get in here to see us right away.
- Something Caught Between Your Teeth? Gently try dental floss first, and never use a sharp object. If you can’t dislodge it, call us right away.
- Lose a Filling? Believe it or not, as a temporary measure until you can get in here to see us, you can stick a piece of sugarless chewing gum into the hole. Then, call us!
- Lost a Crown? Come in as soon as possible and be sure to bring the crown. In the meantime, slip the crown back in if you can, or use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area.
Hey, be careful out there! And wear a mouthguard to help prevent an injury! Comfort Dental wants to help you keep ALL of your teeth—FOR LIFE!
Don’t forget, if you haven’t already, to become a fan of our Facebook page by clicking the “Like” button! We look forward to your next visit to our office (but hopefully NOT an emergency!).
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION, more than 2 million teeth are knocked out each year due to sports-related injuries! While that’s a pretty shocking statistic, thank goodness approximately 200,000 high-school and college athletes use mouthguards to avoid such injuries.
The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. also weighs in with a report that dental injuries are the most common type of oral facial injury sustained during sports-related activities.
What’s the Message from Comfort Dental?
If you or a family member participates in activities such as basketball, softball, football, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, in-line skating, martial arts, skateboarding, or bicycling – the dentists at Comfort Dental in Lafayette urge you to consider a mouthguard!
Mouthguard Defined
An athletic mouthguard is a flexible appliance worn during athletic and recreational activities to protect teeth from trauma.
How Does a Mouthguard Help?
Mouthguards are effective at moving the lips and cheeks away from the teeth, thus preventing cutting and bruising of these soft tissues—especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances.
Custom-fabricated mouthguards are essential for preventing athletic oral and facial injuries, such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral hemorrhages, and neck injuries. Wearing a mouthguard also may reduce the severity and incidence of concussions.
When Should I Wear a Mouthguard?
The most straight-forward answer - Wear a mouthguard anytime there’s a strong chance for contact with other participants or with hard surfaces.
What are the Different Types of Mouthguards?
- Stock
Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
- Boil and bite
Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don’t follow the directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth protector.
- Custom-Made Mouthguard: The best choice is a Custom-made sports mouthguards at Comfort Dental offering the best, most individualized protection for your teeth. It offers the best protection, fit, and comfort level because it is made from an exact model of your teeth.
How can I learn more about Sports Mouthguards?
Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs will be happy to discuss athletic mouthguards. Feel free to Ask the Dentist, call our office at 765-742-3100, or bring up the topic of athletic mouthguards during your next visit to Comfort Dental of Lafayette.
Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs frequently use Glidewell Laboratories for their high-quality mouthguards. The following video provides great additional information about custom mouthguards.
THE END OF LAST WEEK DR. BRUCKEN COULD NOT BE FOUND AT COMFORT DENTAL. So where was I? Yes, it was dental related & I'd like to tell you a little about it.
Last week I attended a continuing education-focused dental conference. While it was a convenient non-stop flight to Las Vegas, it was more like a motivational, educational trip to the latest in dental techniques and technology.
WEDNESDAY – I attended an all day workshop “A Patient-Centered Approach to Communication & Comprehensive Care.”
Communication is such an important part of every visit to the dental office. This course helped hone listening skills, as well as placed emphasis on ensuring patient-focused goals are openly communicated.
THURSDAY – This day of seminars focused on a variety of topics from new denture techniques to the latest dental materials to ensure great new smiles.
While I am so fortunate to be actively involved in the local dental study club, it is really helpful to be in a forum where dental manufacturers and dentists come together to compare the experiences and struggles to help ensure we are all well-informed and have the latest information.
FRIDAY – The first seminar was a resounding reminder about making sure - while you love dentistry it is so important to have fun! Later in the day focused on dental hygiene research and making sure the dental office has efficient systems from new patient appointments to ensuring your office always runs on time.
No matter how much you love your job, love the people you work with, or love your patients – it is great to take time to meet new people across the country, compare notes and learn from these peers.
SATURDAY – I promptly got up went to the airport to get home to my family. Four nights is long enough to be away from my two little boys!
No matter what you do or how much you love it – meeting new people who have similar challenges and successes is a refreshing and energizing experience.
Thank you to the wonderful patients of Comfort Dental in Lafayette. I am truly energized to bring the information and ideas from this past week to better serve you! I look forward to seeing you soon!
DO YOU LOVE CHEWING GUM? Have you ever wondered if it was bad for your teeth? If you’re like many of us here at Comfort Dental here in Lafayette, gum is a “necessity” that some of us have a hard time going without! It is thought that ever since Thomas Adams invented chewing gum back in 1870, it’s been one of the most common breath stabilizers around.
So… How is all this gum chewing affecting our teeth?
Good news! Chewing gum can actually help fight cavities! In fact, our team can actually recommends it! The act of chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which is a natural buffering and cleaning agent that kills cavity producing acids. In addition, a recent study shows that for those who do not naturally produce a sufficient amount of salivary flow on their own, frequently chewing a piece of gum can help remedy the problem.
Gum is also a great agent in fighting plaque.
Interesting Study: Plaque is one of the main cavities and periodontal disease contributors. The University of the Pacific School of Dentistry conducted an 8-week study where volunteers chewed BreathAssure Dental gum for 20 minutes a day while a control group chewed a placebo gum for the same amount of time. All test subjects practiced proper brushing and flossing techniques. The results of the study showed that BreathAssure reduced the accumulation of dental plaque by 35%.
Some types of gum can also contain beneficial artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol, which has been found to inhibit bacterial growth and perhaps even reverse small lesions. However, in order to truly benefit from the Xylitol in gum you need to chew two pieces 3–5 times daily for at least five minutes at a time.
So what’s the catch? (Hint: Hold the Sugar)
Yes, you guessed it… There’s always a catch, right? Here it is. Brands of gum containing sugar can be harmful to your teeth if they’re chewed too often or taken out of your mouth too soon. If you prefer gum containing natural sugar rather than artificial sweeteners, chew it for at least 15–20 minutes so that your saliva can rinse away the sugar residue once you’ve chewed out all the sugar.
Of course, whether or not you decide to chew gum is your decision—however, if you DO chew it, Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs strongly recommend choosing a sugarless gum.
Another Catch (Hint: Jaw Pain)
If you’re susceptible to TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, or other face/jaw pain, the disadvantages of chewing gum may outweigh the benefits.
Isn't it nice to learn that something you enjoy can actually be good for you too! We hope you enjoy coming to see us at Comfort Dental and we looking forward to seeing you soon!
The hygienists at Comfort Dental spend a lot of time trying to remove food and drink stains from teeth. Here are the top 5 food and drink items that might be causing your smile to look a little dingy. Ironically, many of these foods are good for your overall health - so we’ve included tips to avoid discoloring your teeth.
- Wine: Red wine is the obvious stain maker, but it turns out that white wine can discolor your teeth as well. Wine is highly acidic and softens the tooth enamel. Brushing your teeth immediately after drinking wine may cause even more damage by scratching the softened enamel layer. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking and brush after about 30 minutes to reduce damage.
- Coffee: Everyone knows that coffee stains your teeth, but science has recently proven that our morning caffeine jolt has health benefits as well. Did you know that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet? Enjoy your coffee, just remember to brush with a soft-bristle tooth brush after finishing breakfast.
- Sports Drinks: These drinks come in a rainbow of colors and the darker colors will stain more, but the real problem is the acid and sugar in these drinks. Again, acid softens up the enamel allowing the tooth to stain and then the sugar feeds the bacteria that live in the mouth.
- Curry: Turmeric gives curry that wonderful yellow color and it does the same for your teeth. Combine that curry dish with leafy greens to help protect your smile and brush your teeth and tongue immediately after eating. Don’t avoid turmeric - because it is thought to protect against certain cancers.
- Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants and good for you nutrients blueberries should be a part of everyone’s diet. The deep color makes these berries, along with blackberries and raspberries among the top stain makers - so be sure you brush after eating.
You can also help protect your smile by chew sugarless gum containing xylitol after enjoying anything on our top 5 list. Chewing gum stimulates your saliva which will help wash away food particles and has been proven to help strengthen teeth.
Over time our teeth stain and our smile becomes dingy. Professional dental beaching can give you back your white smile safely and comfortably. There are several whitening options available from Comfort Dental in Lafayette, IN. Check out this blog about our Tooth Whitening in 3 Easy Steps.
Your white, bright smile is just a phone call away. Call us today at 765-742-3100 for more information!
A RECENT STORY IN THE NEW YORK TIMES has left parents worrying about their young children’s oral health. Why, you ask?
Tooth decay is on the rise, especially in toddlers and preschoolers. Even if you don’t have kids this age, or kids at all, you may have grandkids, neighbors or friends with kids who might find this information useful. Spread the word!!
More and more, dentists like Dr. Randall Brucken & Dr. Lawrence Stubbs are seeing preschoolers with an average of 5-10 cavities at a time. In fact, the article points out that the problem has become so serious that many kids now require general anesthesia during their cavity fillings because they are unable to sit through such extensive procedures when they are awake.
Research shows that oral infection is the number one chronic disease in children, and over 50% of today’s toddlers will have some sort of tooth decay before they are 5.
So, what is causing all this decay, and how do we prevent it!?
Severe tooth decay can be caused by a variety of young children’s habits. Here are 7 habits contributing to the problem:
- Endless snacking
- Sugar-rich foods
- Refined foods such as white bread
- Sweet drinks before bedtime
- Un-fluoridated bottled water
- Lack of flossing
- General abhorrence of oral care
Many parents have to fight with their children to brush their teeth once a day, let alone the recommended “two-minutes, twice-a-day!” This is one battle that is definitely worth fighting. Dr. Brucken has two boys under 5 years old, so he very personally knows the effort it takes to practice what he preaches. Our kids are so worth it!
So, here’s what you can do: 
- Cut the overload of sugary snacks out of your children’s diets like raisins and fruit roll-ups
- Make sure you are giving them tap water instead of bottled
- Help them brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once until they are 8 or able to write in cursive
- Bring them to Comfort Dental for regular checkups
Comfort Dental wants to make sure all of our patients in the Greater Lafayette Area have healthy habits and healthy smiles for a lifetime. We look forward to seeing you soon!
WE ARE OFTEN TOLD CERTAIN FOODS OR DRINKS ARE BAD for our teeth. Well, on the flip side there are both foods and drinks that promote dental health.
WorldDental.org put together a top 10 list & Comfort Dental would like to share these tasty, smile enhancing options with you.
Top 10 Beneficial Foods For Teeth:
- Cheese Calcium, phosphorous, and proteins in cheese may also help remineralize damaged tooth enamel. While the mechanism is not completely understood, numerous studies have shown that eating cheese after eating a sugary snack greatly reduces the damage to your teeth. Cheese tends to increase the amount of saliva in your mouth, which helps keep cavities at bay. Cheese can also help neutralize the acid that bacteria produce.
Green Tea contains polyphenol, an antioxidant plant compounds that reduces plaque and helps reduce tooth decay and gum disease. Tea may also help reduce bad breath. Tooth enamel is also strengthened because green tea naturally contains fluoride which promotes healthy teeth.- Milk and Yogurt are good for teeth because they contain low acidity, which means less wearing of teeth. They are also low in decay-inducing sugar. Milk is a good source of calcium, the main component of teeth and bones.
Fruits such as apples, strawberries and kiwis contain Vitamin C. This vitamin is considered the element that holds cells together. If this vitamin is neglected, gum cells can break down, making gums tender and susceptible to disease.- Vegetables containing Vitamin A, such as pumpkins, carrots, sweet potatoes and broccoli, are necessary for the formation of tooth enamel. Crunchy vegetables may also help clean gums.
- Onions contain antibacterial sulfur compounds. Tests show that onions kill various types of bacteria, especially when eaten raw.
- Celery protects teeth by producing saliva which neutralizes acid that causes demineralization and tooth decay. It also massages the teeth and gums.
- Sesame seeds reduce plaque and help build tooth enamel. They are also very high in calcium.
- Meat and Eggs contain phosphorus, especially beef, chicken, turkey, and eggs. Phosphorus, with calcium, is one of the two most vital minerals of teeth and bone.
Water cleans the mouth and produces saliva that deposits essential minerals into the teeth. It keeps gums hydrated and washes away particles from the teeth.
Paying attention to your diet, as well as consistently brushing and flossing teeth, are all important factors in maintaining a healthy smile. Dr Brucken and Dr. Stubbs want to remind you that although warning about certain foods and drinks having a detrimental effect on teeth is valid, there are also tasty choices that promote dental health.
As a final note, while we appreciate the beneficial compounds found in raw onions mentioned above, we also recognize this food choice may not always be appreciated by those closely around you. We hope you found this list interesting and hope to see you soon!
