The Impact of Stress on Oral Health
While the connection isn't always recognized or completely understood, mind and body are inextricably linked. The health of the mind has a direct impact on the health of the body and vice versa. Due to this connection, emotional stress can actually harm your physical health, including the health of your teeth and gums.
Stress and Oral Health: What Are the Impacts of Stress on Your Teeth and Gums?
Some of the oral health issues that can be caused or worsened by emotional stress and anxiety include the following:
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD/TMJ) - Stress is associated with increased muscle tension, and stress-related tension is often held in the muscles of the shoulders, neck, jaw, and face. This tension can pull the jawbones out of alignment, resulting in temporomandibular joint disorder which can cause pain, frequent headaches and migraines, and oral health issues like bruxism.
- Bruxism - Bruxism is characterized by teeth grinding and jaw clenching. It can occur during waking hours or while a person sleeps. Bruxism is strongly linked with TMD, as the two conditions tend to occur simultaneously in a negative feedback loop of both conditions worsening the other. Bruxism can cause pain, and it also results in excessive wear and tear on the teeth. As a result, it's associated with accelerated tooth decay, gum recession, and an increased risk of periodontal disease.
- Periodontal (Gum) Disease - Stress has been shown to weaken the immune system and lower the body's ability to fend off infection. This means that stress increases the risk of developing gum disease, a bacterial infection of the gum tissues.
- Dry Mouth - Stress can also reduce the flow of saliva into the mouth, and saliva is important for remineralizing the tooth enamel, washing away harmful bacteria, and cleaning debris from the teeth. A dry mouth increases the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and periodontal disease.
- Canker Sores - Canker sores are small lesions that can develop inside the mouth on the soft tissues, and stress often triggers these sores.
How to Safeguard Your Oral Health from Stress
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Despite feeling stressed, it's important to keep up with a good, daily oral hygiene routine. Not only can a regular routine feel calming and grounding, but practicing good oral hygiene will help to prevent tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease (resulting in slightly fewer things to worry about).
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet helps to support your immune system, good mental health, and your oral health. Eat a well-balanced diet containing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, avoid consuming too many simple sugars and processed carbohydrates, as these can contribute to generalized inflammation, worsen gut health, and negatively impact your overall well-being.
Managing Bruxism and Alleviating TMD
If you're experiencing symptoms of bruxism or TMD, then we encourage you to get an evaluation with a dental professional. These issues can sometimes be effectively addressed with a custom-designed mouthguard worn during sleep. A nightguard will prevent you from clenching your jaw and protect the surfaces of your teeth from grinding.
Take Steps to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
If your stress has reached a level where it is impacting your health, this is a serious concern. You should take steps to reduce the amount of stress and negative emotions you experience each day. Strategies might include lifestyle changes or making time for more exercise, meditation, or a relaxing hobby; taking a walk before bed; relaxing in the bath before bed; reading; listening to soothing music; or speaking with your primary healthcare provider about whether seeking additional support through counseling or medication might be beneficial for you.
Protect Your Oral Health and Peace of Mind with Comprehensive Care at Great Lakes Dental
If you're worried that your stress levels are having an impact on your body's general health and your oral health, we strongly encourage you to speak with a doctor about improving your mental and physical health in addition to scheduling a visit with your dental care professional to take action to safeguard your oral health - and solve at least one problem that might be worrying you.
We offer a comprehensive menu of preventative and restorative treatments and services designed to address stress-related oral health issues such as bruxism, TMD, and more. To learn more about how stress can impact your oral health or to take action today, we welcome you to contact Great Lakes Dental to request a consultation with one of our dentists in Mentor, Ohio.