Stress and Dental Health

Quick question: have you been feeling a little stressed out lately? First of all, if you've been a bit anxious, you're not alone. It's a crazy world out there. Secondly, if you are feeling stressed, it's important to remember to take care of yourself. Since April is National Stress Awareness Month, this is the perfect time to check in with your body and take stock of any stress-related ailments. 

Not-so-fun-fact: stress can really wreak havoc on your dental health. Issues such as bruxism (i.e. tooth grinding), TMJ, and gum disease have all been linked back to stress. But don't worry! 

There are many ways to combat these issues and minimize the effects of stress.

Before we get to the solutions, it is important to understand the many ways that stress can impact your oral health. First of all, bruxism can often cause your teeth to clench, especially when you are asleep. This can wear down your teeth, cause cracks and lead to jaw pain or headaches. Temporomandibular disorder (or TMJ) is closely linked to tooth grinding. Chronic grinding leads to constant tension in your jaw muscles. This tension can lead to pain, stiffness and difficulty chewing. In addition to bruxism and TMJ, stress can trigger mouth sores and reduce saliva, which may lead to bad breath and tooth decay. Finally, stress both weakens your general immune system and promotes unhealthy habits. All in all, it really can do a number on you. 

Now, on to the solutions. Effectively managing stress is a full time job, but it will be all the better for you in the long run. Instead of ruminating over work-related worries, take a walk in your local nature preserve or sign up for a yoga class. Exercise boosts your mood and relaxes your body. Meditation and counselling can also help to reduce the effects of stress. It's important to have time to reflect and to puzzle out your problems with a good listener. It is also important to maintain good oral hygiene, even if it is difficult to keep up healthy habits in stressful times. Your oral health affects your physical health which affects your mental health. Everything is connected. Although it may not feel like it, flossing and brushing ultimately reduce your stress by ensuring that you do not require any expensive, anxiety-producing treatments. Preventive care is the name of the game.

If you are already experiencing issues like bruxism, try to avoid habits which could worsen tooth grinding. For instance, excess caffeine and alcohol have been known to exacerbate bruxism and should be cut down as much as possible. Finally, you can head most your dental issues off at the pass if you schedule regular checkups with your dentist. A good dentist can give you a mouth guard for bruxism, a bite adjustment for TMJ or a deep cleaning for latent gum disease. 

With the right support and preventive care, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy for decades to come. If you live in the Hudson Valley, NY, and would like personalized guidance on reducing stress and protecting your dental health, we would love to help. You can call (845) 244-3082 or email drhwettels@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. Together, we can create a plan that keeps you healthy at every stage of life.