The Role of a Dentist Office in Providing Preventative Care for Patients with ADHD

Most of us have experienced difficulty concentrating at some point. However, staying focused can be chronically challenging for some people. It impacts their ability to do everyday tasks and succeed in daily life.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological condition that affects millions of people, ranging from young children to adults. The disorder can cause increased inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in people, making it very difficult to do tasks most of us see as easy.

You may wonder: “What does ADHD have to do with dental hygiene?”

Unfortunately, people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may struggle to focus on routine tasks that need daily attention, such as brushing and flossing their teeth. ADHD can make it hard to keep to a routine, like the act of brushing twice a day.

Similarly, the impulsivity and forgetfulness brought on by ADHD can lead to poor oral health habits, such as skipping brushing or a dental visit. This can lead to fear of dental procedures.

This means that people with ADHD are sometimes at increased risk of poor oral health and dental caries—decay or cavities. While this issue is common for those with ADHD, there is hope.

At Mountain View Family Dental, we empathize with adults and children with ADHD and strive to help them create strategies that lead to better oral hygiene habits.

In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the connection between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and poor dental health habits. We have several simple tricks that can help patients achieve a beautiful smile.

Understanding ADHD Symptoms and Dental Hygiene Challenges

As we mentioned, people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have a higher likelihood of dental issues, such as cavities, oral diseases, and more. These stem from inconsistent, poor oral hygiene practices that often result from ADHD symptoms.

Here are some of the most common issues and oral health complications we see in patients with ADHD:

• Tooth Decay and Oral Infections: Patients with ADHD are more likely to have cavities and infections because of inconsistent brushing and flossing. People with ADHD also tend to snack on sugary or starchy foods because these foods satisfy the cravings and hyperfixations they may be experiencing;
• Gum Disease: Tooth decay can eventually lead to gum inflammation because of plaque buildup along the gumline. This inflammation can become gingivitis over time, or even worse, periodontal disease, signaled by bleeding gums. People with ADHD are more likely to experience these issues as their impulsivity may make them avoid seeking dental care until it’s too late;
• Teeth Grinding: ADHD sufferers often deal with heightened stress and anxiety. This can lead to bruxism, or teeth grinding. Bruxism usually happens during sleep, leading to worn down teeth, jaw pain, or broken teeth. On top of this, the stimulants used to treat ADHD may also cause teeth grinding as a side effect;
• Dry Mouth: Another common side effect of ADHD medications is a dry mouth. Saliva helps neutralize acids and food particles that can wear down our teeth, so reduced saliva production means cavities and other issues are more likely to occur;
• Traumatic Dental Injuries: Impulsivity and hyperactivity can put ADHD sufferers at increased risk of accidents, which may lead to oral trauma. Chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth are often more common among ADHD patients, especially children;
• Poor Diet: ADHD patients often eat more sugary snacks and drinks, and sensory issues may cause them to avoid healthy foods like vegetables, which can impact their dental hygiene.

ADHD Medication and a Dry Mouth

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is often treated with stimulants like Adderall or Vyvanse. Because these medications can cause a dry mouth, it’s important to understand how to make up for the lack of saliva in the mouth and ensure food particles are getting washed away.

A dentist may suggest saliva substitutes to increase moisture in the mouth. This may include drinking more water or taking additional medication and moisturizers to improve a patient's saliva production.

Similarly, a dentist may advise limiting sugary foods and drinks. This can greatly reduce the risk of cavities in those with ADHD and dry mouth. Sugar-free substitutes can be a great option in these cases.

Dentists may also suggest more frequent dental appointments for those who have a dry mouth. This will help to monitor any changes in the mouth and address any issues more quickly.

Of course, a key item to consider with patients who have ADHD is how their disorder impacts their oral health behavior. Their behavior may result in poor oral hygiene habits because they struggle to focus or have motivation, which is beyond the patient’s control.

Dentists can help create strategies to encourage oral hygiene to help them. They may work with therapists to discuss the patient’s motivation, use apps or games to support good routines, or use positive reinforcement and rewards. These are all known to work wonders for ADHD patients.

Role of Dentist Offices in Supporting Patients with ADHD

At Mountain View Family Dental, we want to create a supportive environment for all kinds of patients, including those with ADHD.

We are a judgment-free zone—we want our patients to feel understood and cared for, and not make them feel like they’re in trouble for struggling with healthy oral hygiene habits. People return to the dentist and look after their teeth when they feel empowered and cared for.

Our dental professionals are trained in cultural competence and empathy to help make ADHD patients feel at home. We use personalized communication strategies to build trust and help address the patient’s needs. We also value their feedback on how to create a positive experience.

In the next sections, we’ll share the ways dentists play a role in helping ADHD patients to achieve good oral health.

Creating a Supportive Environment in Dental Offices

Creating a welcoming, sensory-friendly environment can help people with ADHD feel more at home in the dentist’s office.

Dental professionals might use soothing music, muted colors on the walls and furniture, and plants or aquariums in the waiting area to create a relaxing vibe. A space that feels clean and open can help avoid overstimulation, which prevents overwhelm in ADHD patients with dental anxiety.

In addition to a relaxing environment, a dental practice may provide sensory tools to help the patient feel relaxed. These can be items such as stress balls, fidget toys, weighted blankets, and others to improve the sensory experience. Patients can also bring their preferred sensory items from home to their dental appointment.

Finally, our office also uses a therapy dog to help patients feel at ease. Giving pets to a furry friend can help the patient take their mind off the dental experience and enjoy themselves during the process.

Use of Visual Aids and Clear Communication

Another way to make dental visits more relaxing for those with ADHD is to use visual aids and clear communication to help them understand what to expect. Posters or pamphlets with step-by-step guides or interactive demonstrations can help hold the patient’s focus and make it clear they’re in a safe and welcoming space.

The patient’s age may also affect communication styles during a dental appointment. Children with ADHD might prefer colorful and interactive guides while adults may prefer more to-the-point descriptions of their dental care. In either case, using clear and easy-to-understand language is effective for communicating with ADHD patients. Dentists can avoid using complex words and jargon and be more straightforward.

Training Our Dental Office to Understand ADHD

At our office, we prioritize helping our staff understand the needs of many different types of patients during dental treatment, including those with ADHD.

We are patient and empathetic to the needs of these patients and work to understand the best ways we can help them with their oral health problems. We listen to patient feedback closely and evolve our processes to ensure a dental appointment is an easy and comfortable experience for everyone, especially when treating children.

Tailored Preventative Care Strategies

To meet the unique needs of ADHD patients in their oral healthcare, we help create tailored plans to guide them through oral hygiene.

These plans are a collaborative effort between the patient and their dentist. They focus on realistic goals they can easily commit to. This increases the chance that they’ll stick to the dental care routine and make progress in their oral health.

We also suggest adjustments to make their tooth-brushing schedule and flossing easier. Whether these are switching to an electric toothbrush with a timer or a new flavor of toothpaste, we can recommend items that will make the sensory experience of brushing your teeth more enjoyable.

Use of Reminders and Tools to Support Daily Care

Reminders and tools are critical to helping ADHD patients remember to care for their teeth.

Smartphone apps or alarms can help signal to a patient that it is time to brush their teeth and offer fun enhancements like goal tracking, progress markers, and rewards for consistent brushing and flossing. This can make a patient feel more motivated and excited to brush their teeth.

Even smart toothbrushes that connect to phones via Bluetooth can be helpful—they help the patient brush for the full two minutes they need to keep their teeth healthy.

Strategies for Enhancing Motivation and Engagement

External reminders and rewards are great strategies, but long-lasting results in dental care can depend on intrinsic motivation.

Building motivation in ADHD patients is important—they’ll find the routine more natural and easy when they’re motivated to continue it simply for the betterment of their oral health education.

Dentists can work with them to create goals in their oral care process that can help them feel empowered to take action.

Structured Routines for Consistency

Though dentists can help the patients in our office, it’s up to you to reinforce positive behavior, manage your or your child’s ADHD, and promote consistent oral hygiene at home on a daily basis.

Creating structured routines can help with this. Integrate brushing and flossing into daily routines and make it a ritual—perhaps you will always brush in the morning after breakfast, and always after putting your pajamas on at night.

You can even use visual checklists and schedules to check oral care off the list when you’re finished. This helps break brushing and flossing into easy steps to reduce overwhelm in ADHD patients.

Finally, get your family involved!

Supporting each other and cheering each other on can make a difference in practicing good oral health habits if one or more people in your home live with ADHD. Praise and positive reinforcement from loved ones can help you or your children stick to your routines.

Contact Mountain View Family Dental Office

We know dental health can be a struggle for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but we’re here to provide you with strategies to make it easy.

Contact Mountain View Family Dental to learn more about our strategies for optimal oral health for ADHD patients and help yourself or your loved one work toward a healthy smile.

Strengthening Immune Health for Those Prone to Frequent Colds with Dental Cleanings

Did you know that oral health is essential to your overall health?

Most people know that maintaining our health depends on many things, especially eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and getting good sleep. But your teeth and gums also play an important role in keeping you well.

This is because your mouth is the gateway to your body. There are millions of bad and good bacteria in your mouth and brushing and flossing help maintain this.

However, more than just cavities can occur over time if you don’t keep up with good dental hygiene. Gum disease and tooth decay can affect your entire body and lead to a weak immune system. This leaves you at higher risk for illnesses, including the common cold.

Fortunately, you have the power to boost your body's ability to fight harmful bacteria by simply maintaining good dental health.

Let’s dive deeper into how the immune system, underlying health issues, and your mouth interact, and how oral health may be linked to your body’s defenses.

Understanding the Immune System and Its Challenges

It’s important to understand the immune system before we dive into its connection to oral health.

Your immune system is your body’s defense against disease, viruses, and other illnesses. Many different parts of your immune system help it succeed in warding off sickness.

Innate immunity is something you’re born with—it naturally and rapidly helps defend you against germs. Adaptive immunity is slower. This part of the immune system responds to foreign substances and microorganisms.

When working in tandem, innate and adaptive immunity help keep you healthy and resistant to infections. But when other factors come into play—such as stress, poor diet, toxins, or other health complications—your immune system can be weakened.

These factors and the resulting response from weakened immune systems leave people more susceptible to illnesses, such as the common cold. A healthy mouth is one of these factors.

Tooth decay and unclean teeth and gums can create inflammation and infections that lead to a weakened immune system.

How the Common Cold Works

As we mentioned, the common cold is a viral infection, not bacterial. The cold is typically caused by rhinovirus and affects the upper respiratory tract.

The virus attaches to cells in this region and causes an immune response—to you, that response feels like a stuffy nose, coughing, sore throat, and achy feelings as your immune system and body fight off the infection. If you’re like most of us, you probably know this feeling all too well!

Having a healthy immune system can help you fight the cold off faster and keep it from getting severe and dangerous.

You might be wondering, if a cold is a viral infection, how does the bacteria in your mouth connect to this type of illness? Let’s shed more light on this topic.

The Oral-Immune System Connection

Think of your mouth as a microenvironment filled with bacteria. Most of the bacteria in your mouth are helping you, but some are not.

Certain bacteria can cause damage to your mouth, manifesting in tooth decay and gum disease. If we maintain good oral hygiene, we can fight off these bacteria. But if we have an unclean mouth, the bacteria can enter our bloodstream. This creates inflammation, which causes stress to the immune system.

This chronic stress causes the immune system to release cytokines, which throw off the balance of inflammation further and make it harder to fight off infections. Some research states that these bacteria may also link to viral infections by compromising immunity in the respiratory tract.

This makes the immune system’s job harder because its resources are fighting off oral infection, leaving your body less able to fight off other illnesses, like the common cold.

So, oral health is connected to the cold and other illnesses because neglecting your teeth and gum health can add more strain to your immune system. Because your immune system is focused on protecting your mouth, it’s more susceptible to viruses.

Therefore, it’s very important to maintain good oral health—not only to save you from the discomfort of a cold but for your immune system to continue fighting off diseases that could become more serious down the line.

The Broader Impact of Oral Health on Your Body's Immune System

Oral health influences more than just your body's immune system—it has far-reaching effects on your overall wellness.

Poor oral hygiene has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even cognitive decline. The bacteria from oral infections can travel to other parts of the body, potentially contributing to these conditions.

Regular dental care helps prevent oral issues and reduces the risk of these systemic health challenges. Additionally, maintaining a healthy mouth supports better digestion, clearer speech, and greater confidence in social interactions, all of which contribute to a higher quality of life.

How A Routine Dental Cleaning Can Help

There are ways to ensure your teeth and gums stay well so your immune system can operate at its best. It’s best to take a holistic approach to support your immune system—eat healthy foods, exercise, get sound sleep, and clean your teeth twice daily.

Mountain View Family Dental is here to help with regular dental cleaning to ensure your teeth function properly and receive the attention they need.

These cleanings are imperative to ensuring your mouth is healthy. We spend this time removing plaque and tartar buildup, which is where bacteria form and create tooth decay and even infections.

What to Expect During Your Dentist Cleaning

At your dental deep cleaning, we’ll use tools to remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas you might be missing with brushing and flossing. This will help remove bad and harmful bacteria from your mouth and lower the risk of infections and systemic inflammation known to cause weakened immunity.

We’ll focus on polishing and fluoride treatments after the plaque removal, which improve the health and strength of your teeth. Polishing makes your teeth smooth and more difficult for plaque to stick to. Fluoride strengthens the surface of your teeth, which helps keep decay away. These steps help make your teeth resistant to infections and decay.

Dental cleanings also allow us to see early signs of oral health issues. We can watch for early gum diseases like gingivitis and prevent these from getting worse and further weakening your immune system. We’ll also remind you to practice good oral hygiene. This will include demonstrating how to floss, brush, and rinse properly.

We know not everyone likes coming to the dentist, but the benefits of regular appointments and dental treatments are evident. Studies show that people who maintain regular dental appointments are less likely to experience oral inflammation, which reduces the risk of conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. By taking care of your teeth, you can support your entire body.

Benefits of Professional Dental Cleaning

Regular dental care does more than keep your immune system strong. Visits to the dentist have a greater effect on your overall well-being than many people expect.

This includes:

• Along with fighting infections, good oral health contributes to overall body function and well-being, so you can eat, speak, and feel good on a daily basis;
• Dental cleanings also help reduce the risk of gum disease, which can become periodontitis if not addressed. This can lead to serious issues, such as cardiovascular disease over time—regular cleanings stop the progression of these gum issues in their tracks;
• Dental cleanings promote a balanced oral microbiome. This helps create beneficial bacteria that contribute to your overall health;
• Our treatments reduce odor-causing bacteria and debris, putting an end to bad breath;
• Gum disease and tooth decay can lead to tooth loss—dental cleanings help us detect those issues early on so they may be avoided;
• You’ll feel better after a cleaning—who doesn’t love fresh breath, strong, pain-free teeth, and a healthy smile? Knowing you’re keeping your smile clean will boost your confidence and overall quality of life.

Contact Us

Your dental health is more than just keeping your teeth white. It’s part of what keeps your entire immune system in check.

You can boost your ability to fight off illnesses and symptoms ranging from the cold to more severe illness by taking care of your teeth and coming to your dental cleanings.

Contact Mountain View Family Dental today to invest in dental work for your personal health. Your smile—and your body—will thank you!

Can Sedation Help Patients Who Have Difficulty Numbing with Local Anesthesia?

A visit to the dentist is routine for many, but it can be a daunting experience for patients who struggle with a local anesthetic.

These patients often face challenges with achieving adequate numbing, leading to discomfort and anxiety during dental procedures.

Many patients experience some level of resistance to local anesthesia, complicating their care and leaving them nervous to return for future dental treatments.

This resistance to local anesthetic can stem from genetic factors, nerve anatomy variability, or even psychological responses like anxiety.

The emotional toll of ineffective numbing often leads to increased fear of the dentist and avoidance of dental procedures.

Explore Sedation Dentistry With Mountain View Family Dental

At Mountain View Family Dental, we understand and empathize with this experience.

We’ll help you explore how sedation dentistry can offer an effective, compassionate alternative for patients facing these challenges, paving the way for comfortable and successful dental care.

Understanding the Challenges With Local Anesthesia

The challenges can feel overwhelming for patients who experience difficulty numbing with local anesthesia.

Understanding the causes can show how traditional methods sometimes fall short of a patient’s needs.

• Genetics & Local Anesthesia

Genetic variations play a role in how patients respond to local anesthesia. Enzymes like cytochrome P450, which metabolize anesthetics, can exhibit altered activity due to genetic differences.

• Metabolic Tolerance

Some people have faster metabolic rates, causing anesthetics to break down before achieving full effect. Advances in pharmacogenomics offer hope by identifying these variations, helping dentists to tailor anesthesia plans to individual needs.

• Anatomical Differences

Anatomical differences in nerve pathways can lead to incomplete numbing. For instance, accessory nerve innervation or unusual nerve branching can make standard injection techniques less effective. Advanced imaging tools like 3D modeling and nerve mapping are helping dental professionals address these challenges, offering precise patient-specific approaches to anesthesia delivery.

• Dental Anxiety

Anxiety and stress can significantly reduce anesthesia effectiveness. Elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels, triggered by stress, can increase pain perception and interfere with the anesthetic’s ability to take effect and numb. Strategies such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce anxiety, improving the numbing process and overall dental experience.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves using medication to help patients relax during a procedure.

It ranges from mild sedation options like laughing gas for a calming effect to moderate sedation with oral medications or IV sedation for deeper relaxation.

Unlike general anesthesia, sedation dentistry allows patients to remain awake but deeply at ease. It is called conscious sedation.

This approach is helpful for those with dental anxiety, difficulty numbing, or undergoing complex procedures. It ensures a comfortable and stress-free experience tailored to individual needs.

We offer three types of dental sedation options at Mountain View Family Dental.

Nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a mild and safe sedative that helps patients feel calm during dental procedures.

The gas is inhaled through a small face mask and placed over your nose, delivering a calming effect almost instantly.

Nitrous oxide provides conscious sedation—you’ll remain fully awake and aware but feel relaxed and less anxious.

Once the procedure is complete, the effects of the nitrous oxide wear off within minutes, allowing you to drive yourself home or return to your daily activities.

Laughing gas or nitrous oxide is ideal for patients with mild dental anxiety, those undergoing shorter procedures, or children who need help staying calm in the dental chair.

Oral Sedation Dentistry

Oral sedation provides a moderate level of relaxation, making it ideal for patients with more pronounced anxiety or dental phobia or for those undergoing more prolonged procedures.

You’ll take a prescription sedative pill, such as diazepam or lorazepam, about an hour before your dental appointment. This is also conscious sedation.

The medication induces deep relaxation while keeping you conscious and responsive. You may feel drowsy and have little memory of the procedure, which can be a relief for patients with high anxiety.

Because the effects of oral sedation last longer, you’ll need someone to drive you to and from the appointment.

Oral sedation is ideal for patients with moderate dental anxiety, those undergoing complex treatments, or anyone who prefers to feel deeply relaxed during their visit.

IV Sedation Dentistry

IV sedation offers deep relaxation for patients requiring a higher level of sedation while keeping you responsive enough to communicate.

The sedative is administered directly into your bloodstream through an IV, allowing for immediate and precise control of sedation levels. This method ensures a smooth and predictable experience tailored to your needs.

You’ll feel deeply relaxed and may not remember much, if anything, about the dental procedure. But it is also conscious sedation—we can communicate with you in the dentist's chair.

Recovery time is slightly longer, and you’ll need a friend or family member to accompany you home.

IV sedation is ideal for patients with severe dental anxiety, those with difficulty numbing, or those undergoing lengthy or invasive procedures.

How Sedation Dentistry Helps Patients With Numbing Difficulties

Sedation dentistry can be transformative for patients with anesthesia resistance, addressing both the physical and emotional needs they require.

Sedation dentistry helps patients relax, creating a calmer physiological state that improves their anesthesia intake.

The sedatives work by enhancing the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation. Patients feel more at ease, leading to a more positive experience.

This can stop the cycle of anxiety and lead the patient to feel confident in scheduling future dental appointments.

Patients under sedation are more likely to experience involuntary movements or discomfort, allowing dentists to work more efficiently.

For complex treatments, sedation minimizes the need for breaks and enables comprehensive care in fewer appointments. Sedation can enhance the effectiveness of local anesthesia by improving blood flow and absorption.

Sedation dentistry provides a dual advantage for patients with difficulty achieving complete numbing.

Prolonged anesthetic duration and heightened patient comfort. This is particularly valuable during lengthy or high-stakes procedures.

Considerations and Precautions Taken By a Sedation Dentist

Sedation dentistry offers numerous benefits, but we want to make sure the process is safe, well-thought-out, and thorough before we administer sedation. We take your well-being very seriously.

The following details the steps we take to ensure sedation dentistry is right for you and administered with care.

Our Process

1. Before we offer sedation, we review your complete medical history, including any chronic conditions, current medications, or past reactions to anesthesia. We’ll work with your primary care physician to understand your health and take into account concerns like heart conditions, diabetes, or respiratory issues.
2. Before your appointment, we will also do a consultation with you to make sure you understand exactly what will happen during your dental procedure. We’ll walk you through the sedation process, what to expect during and after your procedure, and how to maintain your treatment plan over time.
3. We’ll also make sure you have medical clearance from your doctor to confirm sedation is a safe choice for you. This is your time to ask questions—if anything is on your mind leading up to your procedure, our dentists can answer questions during your consultation to ease your mind. You’re encouraged to share your concerns and preferences. We want to maintain a dialogue with you to make sure our decisions align with your needs while maintaining safety.

This shared process helps us build trust and makes certain risks of the process less foreign to the patient. Patient safety is the top priority during sedation and rigorous protocols are in place to ensure a smooth experience.

Sedation procedures require specialized training. Our dentists undergo continuous education to stay updated on the latest techniques and protocols. This training includes emergency response drills to prepare for rare but critical scenarios.

We also value effective communication between our dental team members. Everyone in the dental office understands their role in the procedure and helps maintain a seamless workflow to prioritize patient comfort and safety.

Advanced technology continuously monitors your heart rate, oxygen levels, and breathing, ensuring you remain stable through the procedure.

Emergencies are extremely rare in sedation dentistry. However, we have a well-rehearsed emergency response plan in place. We are equipped with oxygen tanks, emergency kits, and medications to handle unexpected situations.

FAQs on Sedation Dentistry

• Will I Be Unconscious During Sedation Dentistry?

  Most forms of sedation dentistry, including laughing gas and oral sedation do not induce unconsciousness. You will likely remain awake but deeply relaxed and less aware of the procedure. General anesthesia, which renders you fully unconscious, is typically reserved for hospital settings or highly complex cases.

• Are There Any Side Effects of Sedation Dentistry?

  Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, or mild nausea, which typically resolve quickly. Your dentist will provide aftercare instructions to help manage these effects.

• Can Children Undergo Sedation Dentistry?

  Yes, sedation dentistry is often used for children who experience dental anxiety or have difficulty cooperating during procedures. Pediatric dentists are specially trained to do oral sedation dentistry safely on children.

• How Long Does It Take To Recover From Sedation?

  Recovery time after undergoing sedation depends on the type of sedation used. For nitrous oxide, the effects wear off within minutes after the procedure. Oral and IV sedation may take a few hours, so it’s recommended to have someone drive you home.

• How Do I Prepare for a Sedation Dentistry Appointment?

  Your dentist will provide specific instructions based on the medical procedure and the type of sedation. Generally, you may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before your appointment. Arrange for a trusted adult to drive you home after the procedure if oral or IV sedation is used.

Contact Us

If you have difficulty numbing or dealing with dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can transform your next dental procedure. This solution can make your life easier and help you gain confidence in keeping up with your dental care, leading to a healthier smile.

Contact Mountain View Family Dental today to see if sedation dentistry may be right for you.