There has been a lot of talk about how stress is linked to chronic headaches, stomach problems, and emotional trepidation. What has yet to be discussed is how stress can also affect your teeth and gums. When you’re under psychological or physical stress, your body behaves differently and has to set processes in action to offset the chemical reactions stress produces. Your body functions experience disruption, and you replace good habits with bad ones. It’s no wonder your oral health can suffer, too.
What problems with my oral health could be the product of stress?
1.Canker sores
You’ve probably had them more than once. Tiny, white canker sores on the inside of your cheeks are extremely painful. Most of the time these are thought to be the product of small cuts inside your mouth, which then become infected. However, in the absence of any wound, stress can be the culprit. It weakens the immune system, and makes your mouth more susceptible to bacteria (along with every other part of your body). Luckily, these wounds aren’t contagious and usually disappear within a week or two.
2.Cold sores
Feverish blisters appear on the lips when your immune system is exposed to extreme levels of stress. Fortunately, there are loads of products on the market to help these heal, and to help you deal with the symptoms in the meantime. But few products are effective in preventing breakout—for that, the best practice is to reduce your sources of stress.
3.Teeth grinding
Uncontrolled, unconscious teeth grinding—both during the day and at night—comes as no surprise when you are chronically stressed out. This commonly leads to TMJ disorders, which lead to bigger problems with your lower jaw joint. Consult with your dentist to see whether a custom mouth guard or a more specific TMJ treatment is appropriate. And, yet again, the best route of action is to reduce your source of stress.
4.Parodontopathy
Severe stress can also trigger accelerated production of cavities in your mouth. And with infection and tooth decay, stress can also increase the risk of gum disease and gum bleeding. All of these conditions ultimately snowball into more problems. Recent studies show that the likelihood of gum disease is two times higher in patients with depression, for example. And while it’s not possible to immediately eliminate stress or depression, your dentist can consult you on oral health habits that give you the best chance at keeping your mouth healthy.
5.Bad diet
You are what you eat, and stress determines what you eat. You’ve probably noticed that you either eat considerably less or considerably more when you’re stressed. You may have also noticed that you pay less attention to what you eat. If sweets and junk food help you alleviate your stress, bear in mind that they’ll have a negative effect on your oral health.
6.Avoiding or forgetting oral hygiene
When you’re rushing through your day, trying to accomplish as much as possible, to answer every e-mail and finish every task, it’s possible that you’ll neglect your teeth. Don’t forget to brush and floss, there’s no day where you can’t find two minutes for each! At bedtime, if you’re so tired or stressed that you just want to curl up in your bed, make the extra effort for a quick brush and you’ll be able to sleep knowing you’re keeping your health front-of-mind.
If you think stress is a problem in your oral health, be sure to talk to your dentist. And remember, every day is an opportunity to protect and reinforce your oral health.
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