Tips to Relieve Migraine Pain

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businessman with migraineWhen your headaches are severe and recurring, they’re often referred to as migraines. Unlike your typical, run-of-the-mill headache, a migraine is usually accompanied by a host of other symptoms besides head pain, like extreme sensitivity to sound and light. Also unlike headaches, migraines don’t always dissipate on their own, and once you find relief, they usually come back before too long. Until you receive an accurate diagnosis and lasting relief, try these tips to find temporary reprieve from your migraine headaches.

Get a Massage

Migraines and headaches often result from tight, tense muscles in your neck, shoulders, and face. Receiving a massage every week or so will help keep relieve tension and ease your frequent symptoms, although you may have to continue receiving massages to keep the pain manageable.

Rub Your Temples

If you can’t make it to the masseuse, try rubbing your temples, located just in front of each ear. The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) that connect your lower jaw to your temples can become troublesome when tense or fatigued. Also, the nerve in your jaw is responsible for much of the sensory input from your craniofacial structures. Rubbing your temples will help your jaw’s joints, muscles, and nerves relax.

Stretch it Out

Stretching can help increase the elasticity of the muscles in your neck and shoulders, helping eliminate migraine-causing tension. Try tilting your chin back, then forward, and then towards each shoulder, holding each position for about five seconds and relaxing for five more. Make neck/shoulder stretching a part of your every routine to minimize future migraine occurrences.

Seek TMJ Treatment

Headaches and migraines are common symptoms of a jaw joint dysfunction. When your TMJs are damaged, exhausted, misaligned, or inflamed, they can result in one of several conditions known as TMJ disorders. Besides migraines, TMJ disorder can also manifest as difficulty with biting and chewing, habitual teeth grinding, and a host of other symptoms. Seeking an assessment and appropriate treatment for TMJ disorder can help your jaw joints heal and alleviate its many symptoms.

About Your Livonia Dentist:

As an experienced general dentist, Dr. James Stewart has helped many patients improve their dental health and quality of life by helping them diagnose and treat TMJ disorder. To learn more, or to find out if your chronic discomfort is related to troubled jaw joints, visit us as soon as possible.

James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: Patient Education, TMJ

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Enjoy the Taste, and Benefits, of Eating Right

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healthy eating for healthy smilesEvery March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts National Nutrition Month® to promote nutrition information and education to improve people’s health and lives. This year, the Month’s theme is “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right,” which exemplifies an important aspect of your dietary concerns—your mouth. Your taste buds, tongue, teeth, and gums react to everything you eat, for better or worse, and your diet can affect the state of your oral health as much as it does your physical wellbeing. With the right combination of a good hygiene, professional dental care, and a well-balanced diet, your meals might actually help keep your mouth healthy, rather than increasing your risk of problems.

Foods that Help FIGHT Tooth Decay

While some substances, like sugar, are notorious for increasing your risk of cavities and other issues, some minerals and nutrients are essential to your teeth’s integrity. The enamel that surrounds and protects them requires a steady supply of calcium and phosphate to withstand acid attacks from your meals. Vitamin D allows your body to absorb and use calcium, and can also help combat harmful bacteria to reduce your risk of developing dental infections. In moderation with other nutrients, you can still safely consume sugar and other treats without exposing your teeth to dangerous levels of acid erosion.

Tasty Snack Alternatives for Kids

  • Milk and cheese—rich in calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D, dairy products are highly-beneficial to maintaining resilient tooth enamel and a jawbone strong enough to support your teeth.
  • Lunch meat—the bread in a sandwich contains starch that can facilitate acid erosion, but lunchmeat, like chicken, beef, and turkey, contains ample supplies of calcium and other essential minerals. Sandwiching lunch meat and cheese between crackers, instead of bread, can prove a tasty alternative without the risk of bread sticking to your teeth.
  • Apples—the slightly-abrasive and fibrous texture of apples makes them a natural tooth cleaner, and their juiciness helps facilitate a healthy flow of bacteria-neutralizing saliva. Peeling the apple can help you avoid chunks of the skin being lodged between your teeth.

About Your Livonia Family Dentist:

As an experienced family dentist, Dr. James Stewart has helped many patients improve their dental health by advising them on proper nutrition. To learn how you can modify your diet to provide the maximum benefit to your smile, schedule a consultation as soon as possible.

James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: Healthy Living, Nutrition, Oral Health

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Why You Should be Aware of Sleep Apnea Risks

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guy can't sleepIf you experience daytime fatigue, chronic headaches when you wake in the morning, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms of sleep deprivation, you might suffer from sleep apnea. If you sleep with a partner who’s constantly disturbed by your loud, erratic snoring, then the likelihood is even higher. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, describes a sleep disorder marked by excessively loud snoring, punctuated by moments when you stop breathing in your sleep completely. Although the snoring is loud and distinct, it doesn’t usually wake the person snoring. Patients with sleep apnea are often unaware of their condition until prompted to seek treatment by a frustrated sleeping partner.

Common Risk Factors of OSA

Obstructive sleep apnea and the snoring associated with it are caused by oral tissues and muscles congesting your airway when you sleep. While anyone can develop the condition, certain factors can significantly increase your risk, including;

  • Weight—not everyone who’s overweight has sleep apnea, and not everyone with OSA has trouble with weight management. However, excess fatty deposits around the waist and upper airway can contribute to airway obstruction while you sleep.
  • Genetics—some patients inherit narrow airways or abnormally-sized oral tissues, like tonsils, from their parents, that can increase the risk of OSA.
  • Alcohol consumption—a nightcap can help you fall asleep faster, but your quality of sleep may be poor. Also, alcohol can cause the muscles and tissues in your mouth and throat to over-relax and collapse further into your airway.

Health Issues Related to OSA

A typical sleep apnea cycle consists of increasingly-loud snoring as the airway becomes more obstructed, followed by a moment or two of silence as your breathing ceases completely. After several seconds, your brain will panic from the lack of oxygen and force your body to start breathing again. Patients normally remain unconscious during the episodes, but they can occur hundreds of times a night and prevent your mind and body from falling into deep sleep. The chronic sleep deprivation and decreases in blood oxygen levels can lead to a host of related health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression, to name just a few.

About Your Livonia Dentist:

As an experienced sleep dentist, Dr. James Stewart has helped many patients find relief from snoring and sleep apnea to achieve the quality of sleep they deserve. To learn how you can finally sleep soundly, visit us as soon as possible for a thorough examination. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: Patient Education, Sleep Apnea

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Important Things to Know About Tooth Loss

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older gentleman in thoughtYou know your smile looks different than before, and that might be enough to prompt you to replace your lost teeth, but tooth loss’ effects are far more significant than what you can see. Despite how often it occurs, one of the most important things you should know about tooth loss is that it’s not an inevitable part of aging. Adult teeth were meant to last a lifetime, and with a healthy understanding of how teeth are lost, you may stand a better chance of retaining yours permanently.

Contrary to Belief, It’s Preventable

Teeth don’t fall out because they grow old. On the contrary, people lose teeth when the structures that support them are severely damaged or diseased. The most common cause of adult tooth loss, gum disease, destroys gum tissue and the jawbone that supports your teeth by their roots. A traumatic injury can force the tooth’s root out of its socket within your jawbone, damaging or breaking the periodontal ligaments that hold it in place. Accidents may be difficult to prevent, but keeping your mouth clean and disease-free with good hygiene and professional dentistry will significantly reduce your risks of permanent tooth loss.

How You Replace Lost Teeth Matters

Like your natural teeth, your replacement teeth serve several different functions. A dental bridge, partial, or full denture helps close the gap left in your smile by missing teeth, which can restore your confidence as well your ability to bite and chew properly. Replacing your lost teeth’s roots, however, is equally as important as replacing their crowns, and can only be achieved with one or more dental implants. The small, titanium devices are surgically inserted into the jawbone, and can support your replacement teeth the way roots support your natural teeth.

Untreated Root Loss Breeds Further Tooth Loss

Teeth roots and dental implants, which rest in sockets in your jawbone, are stimulated by pressure every time your bite and chew. The stimulation helps facilitate a healthy flow of nutrients to your jawbone to keep it strong and healthy enough to sustain your teeth. Following the loss of teeth and their roots, patients often experience loss of jawbone density, and over time, further tooth loss as the jaw becomes weaker. Rebuilding your smile with a dental implant-supported prosthesis helps preserve your jawbone’s integrity and your long-term oral health.

About Your Livonia General Dentist:

To learn more about the variety of dental services we offer, including expert restorative care and dental implant restorations, visit us as soon as possible for a thorough examination. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: Dental Implants, Tooth Loss

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How a General Dentist Cures Bad Breath

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embarrassed woman covering bad breathAt least it’s not a toothache; but still, persistent bad breath can make you uncomfortable, especially as you try to interact with your friends, family, and coworkers. You can turn your head to redirect your breath as you speak, but then looking them in the eyes might be difficult. You can chew sugarless gum or suck on a sugarless mint, but that might not completely cover your breath. Even if it does, your bad breath will be back as soon as the taste is gone. Or, you can visit your general dentist, find out why your breath won’t improve, and treat the problem once and for all.

Preventive Checkups and Cleanings

Bad breath, or halitosis, often results from an excess accumulation of oral bacteria—translation: too much dental plaque from poor hygiene practices. Many mouth germs release foul-smelling sulfur gases when they metabolize, and if they overwhelm your mouth, so can their stinky waste gases. Attending a dental checkup and cleaning every six months allows Dr. Stewart to clean the plaque and tartar (calcified plaque) from your teeth, eliminating the common sources of bad breath and other dental issues.

Suggestions from a Professional

If you don’t take care of your dental hygiene at home, then even periodic professional cleanings won’t be able to protect your smile, or your breath. If your home hygiene isn’t as effective as it should be, then our caring team of dental professionals will help educate you on proper hygiene practices. Dr. Stewart can also recommend certain products, like antibacterial mouthrinse to target harmful oral germs, and small changes you can make to avoid feeding overactive oral bacteria. Using the innovative BreathRx® system of fresh-breath products, Dr. Stewart can help you conquer bad breath at its source, as well as prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar.

Restorative Treatments, if Necessary

During your routine dental visit, Dr. Stewart will thoroughly inspect your teeth, gums, and oral tissues for abnormalities that could indicate a developing disease. A decaying tooth or diseased gums can release chemicals that cause bad breath, and treating the issue may be the only way to relieve your halitosis (and save your oral health). If necessary, Dr. Stewart will perform an appropriate restorative procedure (i.e., dental filling, root canal therapy, or gum disease treatment) to treat the disease and its uncomfortable symptoms.

About Your Livonia General Dentist:

To learn more about the variety of dental services we offer, including expert preventive care and fresh breath maintenance, visit us as soon as possible for a thorough examination. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

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How a Dental Crown Can Replace a Dental Bridge

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pleasant surpriseThe dental crown is one of the most diverse treatments in modern dentistry. It can serve as a restoration, a cosmetic enhancement, and in some cases, an effective prosthetic tool to replace missing teeth. As dental prostheses, dental crowns are traditionally used to support a dental bridge. Today, a dental crown can be coupled with a dental implant as an alternative to a dental bridge, providing a more lifelike replacement for your lost tooth. (more…)

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A Dental Crown for Every Need

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confident group of smilesIf your tooth is cracked, chipped, discolored, or treated with a dental filling or root canal therapy, then chances are that a dental crown can restore it (or already has). A dental crown covers the tooth in question above the gum line, and is one of the most popular cosmetic and restorative restorations in modern dentistry. Besides serving a variety of functions, dental crowns also come in a variety of shapes and sizes to serve our patients’ specific needs.

What are Dental Crowns Made Of?

In a full, healthy, and properly-aligned smile, each tooth absorbs a specific amount of bite pressure. For instance, back teeth, which grind your food to a pulp, sustain more pressure than your front teeth, which only tear your food into chunks. Depending on the location of your afflicted tooth, your dental crown can be crafted from a variety of materials, the most common being lifelike dental porcelain. Also known as ceramic, the porcelain used for a crown is tinted to match the shade of your natural teeth. Dental ceramic is semi-translucent, and when layered, it can mimic the way your tooth enamel reflects light, creating a restoration that’s indistinguishable from the teeth around it. For back teeth, or molars, Dr. Stewart may recommend porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns that combine the beauty of dental porcelain with the structural strength of metal.

Not Too Much, Not Too Little

Perfection is hard to achieve in most every day things, but when it comes to your dental health, precision is a vital component of effective treatment. That’s especially true when it comes to restoring teeth, which have a very limited surface area and can’t repair themselves when damaged or diseased. If your tooth’s damage or infection doesn’t warrant a dental crown, then Dr. Steward will advise against the procedure to prevent unnecessary disturbances to your healthy tooth structure. If a dental filling won’t suffice either, then Dr. Stewart may recommend an inlay or onlay. The partial crowns are made from porcelain or zirconia, like a regular dental crown, but only cover your tooth’s chewing surface (onlay), or just the area between the elevated cusps (inlay).

About Your Livonia Dentist:

To learn more about the variety of dental crowns we offer, or to find out if a dental crown is the right choice for restoring your smile, visit us as soon as possible for a thorough examination. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: Restorative Dentistry

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Pop Quiz—Is it TMJ Disorder?

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woman asking herself questionsAlthough frequently diagnosed and successfully treated, TMJ disorder isn’t as well-defined as more common dental issues, like cavities and gingivitis. Actually, TMJ disorder can mean a variety of different ailments, though all of them effect the same area of your jaw—mainly, the joints and muscles that control its movement. The discomfort from the jaw dysfunction can involve jaw pain as well as headaches, earaches, and other seemingly random symptoms. Sometimes, receiving an accurate diagnosis can be difficult; since some patients don’t realize their condition is dental related, they might not seek a dental examination.  However, you can judge the odds that your pain is TMJ-related by asking yourself the right questions about your condition.

Ask Yourself This

Do I suffer from chronic, seemingly inexplicable headaches and migraines?

Headaches and migraines (chronic, debilitating headaches) are among the most common and ambiguous symptoms of trouble. Headaches can occur after a day of unusually excessive stress, as the result of an oncoming illness, or for a large number of other reasons. When they recur, there’s usually an underlying reason, and patients who can’t find an accurate diagnosis at the doctor’s office often suffer from TMJ disorder.

Do I need orthodontic treatment to straighten my crooked teeth?

Your two temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your mandible to your skull, and move in tandem when you open and close your jaw. If your teeth are crooked, they won’t rest comfortably together when your mouth is closed, and your jaw may have to work overtime to maintain your bite’s alignment. Straightening your teeth can help ease the tension, restore the balance, and allow your joints to heal so they can work properly again.

Do I grind my teeth?

Teeth-grinding is a common symptom of stress and anxiety. As your body’s muscles tense up, those in your jaw can force your upper and lower teeth to grind together. If you’re angry, the pressure and energy expenditure can even seem slightly therapeutic. When it’s habitual, teeth-grinding (known as bruxism) can wear down your teeth’s surfaces, throwing your bite off-balance and contributing to TMJ disorder.

About Your Livonia Dentist:

If you believe you may be in the grips of TMJ disorder, or if you wish to seek relief for your chronic headaches and migraines, then visit us as soon as possible for a thorough examination. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: Patient Education, TMJ

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What’s the Difference Between Migraines and Headaches?

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young woman suffering from migraineTo many people, a headache is a headache. To those who experience them frequently, headaches can take on a variety of forms, from minor to debilitating, and are occasionally described as migraines. Though sometimes used interchangeably, headaches and migraines differ in their frequency, severity, cause, and pattern of symptoms. Knowing the difference can help you find more permanent relief by addressing the underlying cause of your chronic discomfort, which often originates with one or more dental health issues.

Defining Migraines and Their Symptoms

Headaches are typically categorized by their cause, which can determine where, how frequently, and to what degree the headaches occur. Migraines refer to recurring, debilitating headaches that usually affect one side of the head, and can accompany a list of other symptoms, as well. Hormonal changes, genetics, excessive stress, and other factors can contribute to aggressive migraines, though experts aren’t certain what exactly causes the condition. The excruciating discomfort of some migraines can last for hours, sometimes days, and may include;

  • Blinding flashes of lights, or blind spots in your vision
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dizziness and disorientation
  • Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
  • Tingling pins and needles in the arms, legs, and extremities

What Causes Dental Migraines?

Like toothaches, headaches can often be a symptom of a dental health issue, such as habitual teeth-grinding (bruxism) or TMJ disorder. Grinding your teeth creates an intolerable amount of pressure for your jaw’s joints and muscles. Aside from wearing down and destroying your tooth structure, bruxism can exhaust your jaw’s joints, leading to TMJ disorder. A jaw dysfunction can disturb the nerve in your jaw, known as the trigeminal nerve, that’s also the largest of your 12 cranial nerve groups. Bruxism and TMJ disorder are among the most common dental issues that claim chronic migraines as frequent symptoms, though severe tooth infections and other dental issues can also contribute to extreme headaches. If you suffer from migraines and have been unable to find a cause or cure, then speak with Dr. Stewart about the possibility of TMJ disorder, and how you can find an appropriate course of treatment.

About Your Livonia Dentist:

As a highly experienced general and restorative dentist, Dr. Stewart is dedicated to helping all of our patients enjoy the benefits of a healthy, beautiful smile. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

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How to Ease TMJ Headaches

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woman in sweater with headacheChronic, seemingly-unexplainable headaches are often signs of TMJ disorder—an umbrella term for a wide variety of issues concerning damaged or misaligned jaw joints. The problem with TMJ disorder is that, like a headache, it can result from a number of different causes. Besides headaches, it also entails a lot of other symptoms that could indicate many different conditions, such as sore neck and back muscles, frequent earaches, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). If you suffer from recurring headaches and haven’t found an accurate diagnosis, you can find temporary relief with a few at-home remedies. For permanent relief, however, Dr. Stewart strongly suggests scheduling a dental examination as soon as possible to determine if TMJ disorder is the reason.

Simple Solutions at Home

Though TMJ disorder has numerous causes, the reason for its wide range of symptoms is due to stress in your jaw’s nerve, which innervates the majority of your craniofacial structures. In the grips of a headache, you can help ease stress and tension by;

  • Applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to relieve jaw muscle tension
  • Applying an ice pack to the side of your face to relieve pain (alternate with heat for best results)
  • Gently massage your jaw’s joints directly in front of and just below each ear
  • Relax with a warm bath, read a book in low (but sufficient) light, or listen to soft music to relieve built-up stress
  • Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like Aspirin or Ibuprofen

Professional Treatment for TMJ Headaches

Temporary relief from your headaches can help you function better throughout your day, but it won’t solve the root of your problem. TMJ disorder requires a professional assessment and diagnosis, and treatment usually depends on the nature of your disorder. For instance, if your jaws are distressed because your teeth are crooked, which can throw your bite off-balance, then you might need orthodontic treatment to straighten them. In many cases, Dr. Stewart can prescribe a dental appliance designed to hold your jaw in a more comfortable position, allowing the joints and muscles to heal.

About Your Livonia Dentist:

As a highly experienced general and restorative dentist, Dr. Stewart is dedicated to helping all of our patients enjoy the benefits of a healthy, beautiful smile. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.

filed under: TMJ

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