Stress Leads to Inflammation

Stress Leads to Inflammation

Today, we seem more stressed as a society than ever before. With smartphones, especially, it can be hard to unplug from work or even from networking with friends and family. But whether your stress comes from technology, finances, or somewhere else, you should know it’s having a negative effect on your health—and not just your overall health, but your oral health, too. We’re talking specifically here about inflammation.

As a part of the body’s immune system, it can be good when it’s working the way it’s supposed. But too much stress can make it difficult for the body to properly regulate inflammation. That can turn inflammation into a weapon the body uses against itself, and it has implications for your oral health. The ADG reported back in 2012 that a definite link between stress and dental health exists, citing problems with the immune system.

All of this means that managing stress and following a good oral health routine are vital. To keep your smile healthy, remember to brush and floss daily. You should also see Dr. Wade twice a year for a checkup and cleaning.

Call Stonebriar Smile Design today if you need to reserve an appointment with us. We’re located in Frisco but provide excellent genera, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry to patients from Plano, McKinney, Allen, The Colony, and Dallas.

How Your Dentist Can Help You Get a Better Night Rest

How Your Dentist Can Help You Get a Better Night Rest

Do you feel rested during the day, or do you catch yourself yawning while at work? Has your partner ever complained about your snoring? Are you perceived as moody? All of these are symptoms of a common condition known as sleep apnea.

In most cases, sleep apnea is caused by blocked air passages. That’s why it goes hand-in-hand with snoring. As air struggles to get through, vibrations are created, causing that familiar sound we associate with snoring. Worse than this, though, is the fact that sleep apnea patients will stop breathing for 10 second or longer, eventually waking up to take a breath. For patients who struggle with sleep apnea, this can happen all night, ever night.

Thankfully, your dentist has a way to help. With a custom-made oral appliance, Dr. Wade of Stonebriar Smile Design can help you keep your air passages clear, preventing snoring and helping you to breathe easily all night long.

Why is treating sleep apnea and snoring so important?

In part because of the strain that sleepless nights can put on couples. But more than that, there’s your overall wellbeing to consider. Daytime drowsiness can lead to accidents at work, at home, or behind the wheel. Plus, patients with sleep apnea are vulnerable to developing high blood pressure and other kinds of heart problems. There’s even a risk of premature death.

Are you looking for relief from snoring or sleep apnea? A custom made oral appliance from Dr. Wade can help. Call Stonebriar Smile Design today for an appointment. We’d be happy to talk to you about your needs and to answer any questions you might have.

Our office serves patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony.

How Hormones Affect Your Oral Health

How Hormones Affect Your Oral Health

We tend to think that oral and overall health exists in completely separate spheres, but that’s not the case at all. What happens in one part of the body can have an effect on what happens elsewhere. That’s true even when talking about hormonal changes.

If you didn’t know it, the rise or fall of hormones can make a patient more vulnerable to a common oral health condition like gum disease. Women are especially vulnerable. For girls entering puberty, women who are taking birth control, pregnant, or entering menopause, chances of developing some form of gum disease are all higher. There’s even increased vulnerability a day or two before the start of a woman’s period.

What does that mean for you?

If you’re a woman, being extra vigilant about your gum health is important. Remember to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. Also, if you’re pregnant or taking birth control, be sure your doctor knows about it. For pregnant patients, more frequent cleanings may be required to keep the teeth and gums adequately protected. It’s also wise to include an antibacterial mouthwash in your daily routine and stick to a balanced diet. A diet high in starch or sugar will only contribute to potential problems with the teeth and gums.

Is it time for your next appointment with Dr. Wade? Call Stonebriar Smile Design in Frisco to reserve an appointment. Our office serves patients from Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony.

DNA Testing with VELscope

DNA Testing with VELscope

In our last post, we talked about the surprising connection that exists between HPV and oral cancer. Today, we’d like to focus on a revolutionary tool that’s helping Dr. Wade and her team diagnose oral cancer early.

In a traditional visual exam, doctors are looking for red or white spots that might indicate cancer. But it takes time for these spots to develop, and they typically indicate a more advanced form of the disease. To effectively treat oral cancer, it needs to be diagnosed early, before any spots are visible.

That’s difficult with just the naked eye, but it’s more than possible with a revolutionary tool called VELscope. This tool uses a special fluorescent light to highlight abnormal cells on tissue that might look healthy to the naked eye.

What does that mean for patients? It means an early diagnose and an early treatment. The earlier treatment can be administered, the greater the chance of making a full recovery.

For more information on VELscope and oral cancer, call our Frisco dental office. Dr. Wade serves patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony. Get in touch with us today for an appointment.

The Surprising Link between Oral Cancer and HPV

The Surprising Link between Oral Cancer and HPV

Oral cancer is among the many oral health conditions Dr. Wade looks for in every checkup at Stonebriar Smile Design. But, you might wonder, if you don’t have any of the common risk factors, is that even necessary?

The most common risk factors of oral cancer include tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption. So if you avoid both of those, you must be safe, right?

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Recent studies have shown that rates of oral cancer are on the rise in patients who don’t have any of these risk factors. The cause? Human papilloma virus, better known as HPV. And even though we think of HPV primarily in relation to cervical cancer, oral cancer stemming from HPV happens in men and women alike.

There are more than 120 different strands of HPV. Many are harmless, some are not. Some can be transferred with skin-to-skin contact, others are sexually transmitted.

With so many different strands and ways of being transmitted, it’s easy for HPV to slip under the radar, meaning you could be at risk without even knowing it. That’s why Dr. Wade makes oral cancer screenings a regular part of regular checkups for all patients, regardless of the risk factors.

Oral cancer screening at our Frisco dental office are quick, and one could save your life.

Has it been more than six months since your last checkup and oral cancer screening? If it has, call Stonebriar Smile Design today to reserve an appointment. Dr. Wade serves patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony.

10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Smile, Part 2

10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Smile, Part 2

In our last post, we discussed five different ways you can improve the healthy and/or beauty of your smile. Today, we’ll conclude by adding five more, for a total of 10 helpful ways you can make a difference with your own smile.

#6 – Enjoy a nutritious diet

What you eat has a big impact on your oral health. Sugary foods create an acidic environment that damages protective tooth enamel. Other foods, like chicken, cheese, nuts, and milk, can help you build strong teeth. What’s more, healthy foods can help you with other nutrients and minerals that can help you enjoy better overall health. If you have questions about foods that can help you, ask us during your next visit or give us a call now.

#7 – Seek restorative care when you need it

Anxiety can keep patients from seeking important care. Don’t let that be the case with you. If you know you need care, it’s better to see us now, when a less invasive treatment can be done. Our Frisco office is devoted to helping you relax and feel comfortable while visiting our office. That will help as we encourage seeking restorative care when you need it.

#8 – Mouthwash is your friend

Brushing and flossing are important, but so is using a mouthwash. An antibacterial mouthwash can help you protect your smile from gum disease, while a fluoride mouthwash can strength your enamel and protect it from decay.

#9 – Chew gum after meals

We’re talking about sugar-free gum of course. The benefit of chewing gum after meals is that it can help you clean your teeth when you’re in a position when you can’t brush or floss immediately after eating.

#10 – Use xylitol sweetener instead of sugar

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that doesn’t work on your smile the way other sweeteners do. Instead of creating acid, xylitol creates a pH-neutral environment that prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. Look for xylitol gum for maximum effectiveness.

Do you have other questions about how you can improve your smile? Call Stonebriar Smile Design to reserve an appointment with Dr. Wade or to ask a question. We’re happy to provide care to our patients from Frisco, Plano McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony.

10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Smile, Part 1

10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Smile, Part 1

Our smiles need plenty of care to be healthy and beautiful. In our posts for this month, we’d like to go over 10 different ways that you can improve the health and/or the appearance of your smile. Both are important and can be achieved with diligence on both your end and ours.

#1 - Follow a good oral care routine at home

Having a healthy smile begins at home with regular brushing and flossing. At our Frisco office, we recommend that patients brush at least twice a day. We also recommend flossing at least once. Following this routine can help you keep bacteria and plaque from causing major damage to your teeth and gums.

 #2 – Visit Dr. Wade twice a year

As beneficial as brushing and flossing are, enjoying a healthy smile also takes regular visits with Dr. Wade. During your six-month visits with us, we can complete a thorough oral exam that will tell us how your smile is doing. We can also give your smile a professional cleaning to get rid of deposits of plaque and bacteria. If we find any issues during your appointment, we can get to work right away on a treatment plan to help you 

reclaim your good oral health.

#3 – Indulge in a cosmetic service

A healthy smile is important, but so is a smile that makes you feel confident. At Stonebriar Smile Design we offer a comprehensive range of services, including porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, Invisalign, and more. If you’re considering a cosmetic improvement to your smile, we’d love to talk to you about how we can help.

#4 – Don’t ignore the warning signs

Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary with your smile? Instead of ignoring it, call us instead to set up a consultation appointment. What happens to your smile can have an impact on your overall health and sense of wellbeing. An untreated cavity or case of gum disease can result in the need for more advanced, more invasive care. Help us provide care early by alerting us to potential warning signs.

#5 – Ask questions

When you understand your oral health needs, you can make more informed choices about your care. At Stonebriar Smile Design, our goal is to help you understand how your smile is doing.  We don’t want any of our patients leaving with a question unanswered

For more tips on how to improve your smile, check back with our blog at the end of the month. In the meantime, call Stonebriar Smile Design if it’s time to schedule your next checkup with Dr. Wade. We serve patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony.