How Stress Affects Your Oral Health

Stress Affects Your Oral Health

Stress Affects Your Oral Health In today’s hectic world, stress is all too common. Life can be stressful and unexpected. If your current situation is stressing you out, it can have a negative impact on your dental and overall health.

We will begin to notice the toll it takes on our bodies if we are unable to adequately control our stress levels. While we can tolerate short bursts of stress, chronically elevated stress levels over time will be extremely detrimental to our physical, emotional, and dental health. 

Physical Consequences of Stress :

• Stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released into the system by the human body in response to stressful situations. These hormones have a variety of physical side effects, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and muscle tension.
• While these symptoms may subside once the situation has been resolved, the long-term effects of these hormones can be detrimental to your oral health.

Dental Issues Caused by Stress :

Here are a few examples of how stress can manifest itself in your dental health:

1. Bruxism – If you are stressed, you may develop bruxism, which is the nighttime grinding and clenching of your teeth. This condition puts a lot of strain on the jaws and teeth, resulting in pain, headaches, and even tooth cracking and chipping.
2. Cold Sores – If you already have cold sores, stress can trigger an outbreak. This is due to the fact that stress weakens the immune system, allowing the virus that causes cold sores to infiltrate. Cold sores are unpleasant, but they should go away on their own in a week or two.
3. Canker Sores – Stress, like cold sores, can increase your chances of developing canker sores. There are medications or rinses available to help relieve the pain of canker sores while they heal.
4. Gum Disease – Stress can impair the body’s ability to combat harmful bacteria in the mouth. If you allow these bacteria to accumulate, you may develop gum disease or even periodontitis.
5. Oral Hygiene Ignorance – Being in an overly stressful situation can disrupt our routines. This may cause you to neglect your regular oral hygiene routine, exposing your teeth to tooth decay, dental cavities, and other issues.
6. According to research, stress, and anxiety may also contribute to a lack of saliva. Because there isn’t enough saliva in your mouth, oral bacteria thrive, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
7. A decrease in saliva production can also result in bad breath.
8. If you suffer from severe stress and/or anxiety, you may be at a higher risk of developing oral cancer or gum disease.

Manage Your Stress

• The good news is that you can reduce stress while also improving your dental health. Meditation and yoga are popular methods for relieving stress and tension in the head and neck area.
• Listening to music or taking your dog for a walk are two other relaxing activities. 
• Slow breathing exercises can also be beneficial. Remember to seek professional help from your doctor if you are experiencing severe anxiety or depression.
• We have good news for you if you grind your teeth as a result of stress! There are some things you can do to relieve stress and reduce your chances of grinding your teeth.
• In the evening before going to bed, try some relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or even watching your favorite TV show with a loved one.
• If you can’t sleep without grinding your teeth, try sleeping with a mouthguard to protect your teeth from damage.

If you have any questions about how stress may be affecting your oral health, please contact Partha Dental, skin and hair clinic.