How Stress Affects Your Oral Health

You might be familiar with stress's mental and physical effects, such as headaches, nausea, and anxiety. But did you know that stress may also impact your mouth and dental health? Knowing your body's early warning signals and the root cause of your stress is essential. It is a good idea to take action to decrease your stress.

Stress is a common occurrence in today's culture. Many factors, including job, school, relationships, and family problems, might contribute to it. Cortisol and adrenaline are chemicals that the body releases when a person is in a stressful environment. These hormones have been linked to several health problems, including dry mouth. Contact Powell, TN dental services to determine if your dental health is deteriorating due to stress. 

How stress affects your oral health

There are several ways that stress might harm your dental health:

  1. Defects of the jaw joint or the chewing muscles can cause jaw issues. These may result in ear or facial discomfort.
  2. Bruxism is also known as teeth grinding. This may occur at night or during the day, particularly while attempting to concentrate.
  3. Poor brushing and flossing habits lead to poor oral hygiene. Too much work or forgetfulness can result in dental hygiene neglect, leading to tooth decay and gum inflammation.
  4. Any mouth injury or irritation, including vitamin B deficiency, can cause canker sores. According to several studies, stress is a significant cause of canker sores.
  5. Poor brushing and flossing habits lead to poor oral hygiene. Too much work or forgetfulness can result in dental hygiene neglect, leading to tooth decay and gum inflammation.
  6. Any mouth injury or irritation, including vitamin B deficiency, can cause canker sores. According to several studies, stress is a significant additional cause of canker sores.

Reducing the symptoms

It is important to identify the cause of your stress and tackle it at its source. After determining the root causes, consider methods for reducing your stress. In the meanwhile, adhere to the following instructions to get relief from uncomfortable mouth symptoms:

  • Talk to your dentist about treatment options.

Request a custom-fitted sleep guard from your dentist to stop teeth grinding. It can be put on at night to guard against tooth damage from clenching and grinding. Additionally, the night guard creates a cushion to relieve pressure from your sore muscles and achy joint tissues.

When you are in pain, stay away from crunchy or hard meals.

  • Avoid crunchy or hard foods.

Always avoid crunchy or hard foods when you are in pain.