How To Use Your Head To Manage Headaches

Whether a migraine or the garden-variety kind, a headache can put quite a damper on your day.

Reaching for a pain killer in this situation may be well justified, but what about the next time?

Here is an increasingly novel (yet contrary to our main stream thinking) idea: how about tackling the problem at the source and reducing or eliminating it versus treating it afterwords?

Our country’s increasing drug dependence is convenient, but taking a “big picture” preventive approach to health usually leads to more effective, long-term results which cost less than a long list of medications.

Here are some ways to manage your headache by focusing on preventing the next attack:

1. Get plenty of sleep

Constant lack of sleep is going to catch up with you and lower not only your productivity, but also your peace of mind and frequency of headaches. This is simple to fix by changing up your daily routine to allow enough sleep at night.

Conditions such as insomnia and sleep apnea increase your headache risk as well, and may require a chat with your doctor.

2. Food triggers

Certain foods like chocolate, cheese and peanut butter can trigger migraines. Another trigger is hunger, as is not drinking enough water.

Know what your food triggers are and avoid them. Also, be sure to carry snacks with you so hunger doesn’t set one off, and drink plenty of water on a daily basis. Moderate amounts of caffeine can often help ease headaches after onset.

3. Quit/curb smoking

Smoking, or inhaling second-hand smoke, can trigger headaches. Yet another reason to add to the list to quit/curb smoking, or avoid areas of second-hand smoke.

4. Slim down

Need another reason to lose those extra pounds? Studies suggest links between obesity and more frequent and severe headaches. Time to get your work-out on.

5. Teeth clenching/grinding

Taking your stress out on your teeth? Teeth clenching and/or grinding put your facial muscles to hard work and can trigger headaches or even migraines.

A night guard provided by your dentist is a simple and conservative solution.

6. Relax

Know anyone without stress? I sure don’t. But letting it get out of control has many negative effects on your body, and headaches is just one of them.

Making time for rest and relaxation using techniques including yoga, meditation and deep breathing can ease an aching head and prevent future onsets.

Most of these don’t require anything more than an open mind and small (at least to start) modifications to your current lifestyle. But as in most cases, small changes can add up to huge rewards over time.

Next time you’re tempted to down a whole bottle of pills to ease your headache….please don’t! Use that moment to fuel your resolve to make some simple changes to reduce more headaches in the future.

Are you ready to try preventing future headaches?

(214) 522-3110            www.raodentistry.com

Image source: La Bioguia

Are You Over-Stressed From Over-Work?

Do you have stress in your life?

The last thing you want after a stressful day is a hectic night (no, not that).

But that’s exactly what millions end up doing; they follow a hard-working day by a hard-working night; by clenching or grinding their teeth all night and waking up with a sore jaw, or even pain.

Restful? I think not.

Not only can that be uncomfortable, but long-term clenching on grinding (“bruxism”) can wear your teeth down as steadily as Tiger Woods’ reputation. This makes them more susceptible to chipping and breaking. Plus, shorter teeth can make you look older prematurely. Who wants that?

Contrary to popular perception, just because your significant other doesn’t hear you grind your teeth doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

The most common trigger? Stress. Surprise, surprise.

While most of us may go through sporadic spurts shorter than a Hollywood marriage, many suffer from chronic jaw pain or migraines as a long-term consequence of these habits. And this constant pressure can traumatize your teeth, often leading to chronic sensitivity or root canals.

But not everyone is aware if they are even doing this. So how do you find out?

There is a list of things we discuss with you at your check up appointment if we suspect or see any signs of excessive wear. Or if your teeth are breaking faster than Anthony Weiner can send a text.

If you are diagnosed with clenching/grinding your teeth, a night guard is the simplest, most non-invasive and cost-effective solution. Worn primarily at night, a good one covers your teeth and provides enough support to absorb the pounding pressure. While the drug store kind can serve you for a short time, a custom guard made by your dentist is the way to go for long-term use or if you are a heavy bruxer/clencher.

Need some real life examples? Here is our patient, Darlene, who (in less than 3 minutes) can tell you how much a night guard helped her:

 

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Call us at (214) 522-3110 or email us directly from our website at www.raodentistry.com.  As always, comments are welcome!

‘Tis the Season For Holiday Stress: How To Prevent Holiday Stress From Causing Dental Problems

(Original Post Date: December 1, 2010)

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of year again, probably the most anticipated and exciting time of the year, but with a string attached…. STRESS!

Three-quarters of American adults report moderate to high stress levels in their everyday lives, and that number increases during the holiday season, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association. And while we all know the many effects of stress on our mind and bodies, it is not unusual to overlook the effects on oral health.

Two common stress-coping mechanisms – night time teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) and indulging on sweets – can be detrimental to oral health. Bruxism, estimated to affect up to 65 million adults in the U.S., can exert up to 250 pounds of pressure on teeth and can cause irreversible damage, including worn enamel, loss of tooth shape and flattened surface. Many individuals are unaware they grind or clench their teeth at night until they need to see a dentist due to tooth soreness or start randomly chipping teeth.

For those overindulgers, the high sugar content from many holiday treats creates an ideal environment in the mouth for bacteria to feed and increase their acid level production, which can lead to tooth decay, mineral loss, and, ultimately, cavities.

Here are a few simple tips to help maintain healthy teeth and gums during the busy and stressful holiday season:

1. Protect teeth against nighttime grinding and clenching with a night guard. options include a short term over-the-counter do-it-yourself-er or a customized one that lasts for years, available from our office.

2. The old tried-and-true: Brush and floss after eating all the sugary goodies!

3. Maintain a regular sleep, meal, oral hygiene and exercise schedule. Attending to basic health needs helps in coping with stressful situations during the holidays.

4. As busy as we can get, it’s tempting to put off your 6-month check up and cleaning during the holidays, but of course, we recommend that you stay on schedule and enjoy your holidays with one less thing to stress about and a clean bill of dental health!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU AND BEST WISHES!

(Source article at plackers.com)

www.raodentistry.com