Can Stress Become A Dangerous Habit?

Lady showing signs of stress

You’re probably wondering whether stress impacts oral health, or whether it can become dangerous to your oral health if it’s not treated. Well, you will be surprised to hear that an ongoing stress habit can lead to damage to your teeth and gums. Whilst you may already be aware of the physical and emotional signs of stress like headaches, stomach pain and anxiety, the hidden unknown is that stress can also impact your oral health.

If you notice any signs of stress, it is important to address them. Your oral health will thank you the less you stress. Otherwise, you’re likely to experience the following conditions, and potentially require emergency treatment.

Man-showing-signs-of-stress

Facial Soreness Including The Jaw

When you open and close your jaw muscles, you’re likely to experience a tight feeling. This also includes when chewing down on food, and this could prove to be more difficult. You’ll begin to experience pain around the ear and face when the jaw moves.

Teeth Grinding Or Clenching

Bruxism, known as teeth grinding relates to stress and anxiety. In turn, stressed people will experience headaches and facial pain. This can wear down your teeth. Grinding teeth naturally occurs during sleep, and purchase a dental mouthguard is a likely recommendation. Do you grind your teeth regularly? Find out here.

Poor Oral Hygiene

When suffering from stress, you’re more likely to avoid looking after your teeth through oral hygiene. This means not paying the right attention to your teeth. When stressed, you’re likely to avoid brushing your teeth at night, rinsing your mouth after a heavy meal, or eating the right foods that contain the right nutrients for your teeth and gums.

Poor or Slow Immune Response

The immune system’s availability to fight off dangerous diseases significantly reduces when you’re stressed. This also means that the immune system cannot function strongly to keep you away from adverse infections that can damage your teeth and gums.

Cold Sores 

If you have something known as the herpes simplex virus, then stress will cause what’s known as cold sores. This can weaken your immune system, meaning it cannot resist the virus, and the virus may cause sores on lips, gums and roof of the mouth.

Wear-and-tear-on-mans-teeth

Here’s How You Can Reduce The Symptoms

There are certain steps you can consider following should you suffer from regular stress, and if you see it’s impacting your oral health. Follow these tips.

  • Contact Your Dentist – Make your dentist aware of your stress and how it’s impacting your oral health, as they will advise recommendations to preserve your oral health.
  • Wear A Mouthguard At Night– Ensure that you wear a dental mouthguard when you sleep because this can create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth.
  • Maintain A Balanced Diet – A balanced diet is important to protect your teeth and keep them strong. Consider eating plant-based foods such as vegetables, egg and fish as these contain calcium, an essential property for healthy teeth and gums.
  • Stop Smoking – Curbing the smoking habit is important because smoking damages your teeth and gums severely.
  • Meditation – Stress can also have an emotional connection. Consider performing some meditation techniques to help clear the mind from any stressful thoughts. This will help you think more clearly and you’re likely to focus on your oral health more.

Are you feeling stressed? Following these tips will ensure stress impacts oral health a lot less. You can always contact our Simply Dental team for further advice. Check yourself in with us today.

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