Don’t Grind Your Teeth If England Play Badly :)
Could the World Cup really lead to damaged teeth?
For the game tonight against Belgium, England fans can relax. We are going through to the qualifying stages anyway and whilst a win would be nice, any result will do. The real pressure, of course, comes when we reach the knockout stages. Despite England having, on paper, a relatively ‘easy’ game next round, some of the games so far have shown that the ‘smaller’ teams should not be underestimated.
At Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, we know how much some of our Burton patients love football, and no doubt many will be glued to their TV watching England play. For them, we offer some advice to help them keep their teeth healthy as the nerves kick in.
Bruxism
Perhaps this is a little tongue in cheek, as most teeth grinding occurs whilst we sleep. However, particularly tense occasions, such as football games can cause us to grind our teeth quite hard. Especially if your teeth have been weakened through too many fillings, it is possible that your teeth could crack, or even break altogether. If this does happen, you should make an emergency dental appointment to see us as soon as you can.
Accidents
If you are watching a game in a crowded pub or even on the sofa with a few friends, be aware of where you are positioned. However unintentional, a punch in the air when a goal is scored could soon cause some significant damage to your teeth. Make sure you have some space when you watch a game and watch out if celebrations start to get too rowdy.
Mind the alcohol!
For many, celebrating with alcohol is inevitable if England win, as is commiserating with it if they lose. Remember though, that too much alcohol will lead to a dry mouth, a condition that encourages bacterial growth and which can lead to gum disease. Accidents too, are far more likely if too much alcohol has been consumed.
If you are in Russia
In the, perhaps unlikely, event that you are reading our dental blog from a hotel room in Russia, waiting to watch a live game, remember that our guidance above still applies. If you do suffer from any immediate damage to a tooth that needs instant repair whilst you are there, you may need to do a little research on the internet to find a suitable dentist. But even if you find one that you are happy with, we would strongly recommend that you allow our Burton dentists to check the work upon your return. The quality of dentistry abroad can be inconsistent, so take care if this applies to you when on holiday or business overseas.
We hope that you enjoy the World Cup for the rest of the competition, but also remember that you still need to carry out your daily oral health cleaning regimen as usual. Regular brushing and flossing of the teeth is just as important during events like these, irrespective of the distractions. If you need any further advice or need to make an appointment to see a local dentist, please call Mike Allen’s Dental Practice on 01283 845345.