Stress and Oral Health

Did you know the amount of stress you're under can directly affect your oral health? Stress can aggravate physical problems, along with a person's motivation to follow their normal dental hygiene routine. If you're experiencing dental problems and you are under stress, let our dentist in Michigan know, so you can get the treatment that is right for you.

How Can Stress Affect My Teeth and Gums? 

Stress lowers your resistance to infections, like gum disease. It can also make you grind or clench your teeth at might. When you grind your teeth, you can wear them down or crack a tooth or a filling. If you're under a lot of stress, you probably won't take the time to perform a proper dental hygiene routine every day.

What Are Some Oral Health Issues Caused by Stress?

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding (bruxism) is something that people under stress may do while they are asleep. The grinding is involuntary and many people don't realize they are doing it. You can crack your enamel, break restorations, and wear down your teeth.

TMJ 

TMJ stands for your temporomandibular joint, the joints on either side of your face where your lower jawbone meets the skull. The joints allow you to open and close your mouth comfortably. When some people have persistent stress, they clench their jaw unconsciously during the day and grind their teeth at night. This puts a great deal of stress on the joint and can cause a TMJ disorder.

Lax Oral Hygiene 

When you're under stress, it's challenging to remember your dental hygiene every morning and evening. Sometimes, people are stressed because they are so busy, but your dental hygiene should take less than 10 minutes a day. Also, keep your appointments for dental exams to maintain your dental health.

Sores and Infections

Persistent stress can weaken your immune system. If you combine stress and lax oral hygiene, it's fairly easy to develop gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. The problem is that gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. A lowered immune system can also make a person more vulnerable to getting cold or canker sores.

How Can I take Care of My Oral Health if I'm Stressed?

Stress often comes from feeling rushed every day. Even if you feel you have no time in the morning or evening, you still should make it a point to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once. It will make you feel better about your oral health and it can set your mind at ease when you have a normal routine.

Reducing the Dental Health Symptoms of Stress

The first step is to identify your stressors. Next, talk to our dentist in Michigan about what you can do to repair any problems with your oral health caused by stress. Finally, you have to work on reducing your stress.

Mitigating the Affects of Teeth Grinding

If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist in Michigan will suggest a custom night guard. This will prevent tooth damage until you can address the problems that are causing you to grind your teeth.

Managing Pain 

Oral health issues can cause discomfort or pain. Your dentist is the ideal person to recommend anti-inflammatory medication, or other techniques that will ease your discomfort until the issues are addressed. If you have pain from decay or fractured teeth from grinding your teeth, your dentist can stop this pain by fixing the problem.

How Can I Take Care of Myself?

Take care of your teeth and gums and see your dentist in Michigan for regular exams. Eating a healthy diet also helps. When you are stressed out there is a temptation to grab fast food, sweets, or anything else that makes you feel better. Try to avoid the temptation. Find something that eases your stress and change what you can in your life to make you feel more relaxed.

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