Stress DOES Affect Your Oral Health

What You Should Know About Stress and Your Oral Health

It is no secret stress can have a negative effect on our health, but have you ever considered the effect it could have on your oral health? The physical health problems that stress can cause can also have a potentially harmful effect on our teeth and gums. Stressors in life can potentially lead to some negative effects on oral health, including:

• Mouth Sores
• Canker Sores
• Cold Sores
• Clenching of Teeth
• Grinding of Teeth
• Gum Disease
• Worsening of Existing Oral Health Conditions
• Unhealthy Eating Routines
• Poor Oral Hygiene

Mouth Sores from Stress

The cause of canker sores is widely unknown, but it is believed by professionals that stress in combination with other factors like allergies or fatigue can increase the chances of an individual suffering from one. Sores in the mouth often appear as small ulcers that have a grayish or white base and are surrounded by a red, inflamed area. Most sores will go away on their own between one week and 10 days but some over the counter solutions can help individual’s relieve the pain and irritation.

Grinding Teeth from Stress

Being in a stressful situation can cause individuals to grind their teeth while in the situation, but can also cause them to do it subconsciously while they are sleeping. The official term for this condition is “bruxism” and grinding teeth or clenching of the jaw can lead to some serious dental problems with individual’s teeth and their temporomandibular joint, where their skull and lower portion of the jaw meet. The best way to stop grinding teeth is to pay attention to when it is happening and try to relieve the stress in another way by exercising or chewing on a stick of sugar-free gum.

Poor Oral Hygiene and Stress

When dealing with a stressful situation, it is very possible for us to lose focus of what is important and miss key parts in the routines we have to care for ourselves. Since stress does many strange things to how we function day to day, it is possible for a stressful situation to make someone less likely to follow proper oral hygiene procedures and possibly develop a number of conditions including gum disease, gingivitis, oral decay and even cavities that will cause them larger problems down the road.

If you have been stressed, it may be time to head to the dentist to make sure your oral health has not been compromised. If you would like information about our discount dental plan , click here.

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