Everyone knows what it’s like to feel stressed, and according to a study done by the American Psychological Association, 77% of Americans suffer from physical symptoms as a result. Not only can the pressures of daily living be harmful to your body as a whole, but they could also damage your oral health. Over the long term, stress could hurt your smile – unless you and your dentist in Cumberland do something to protect it!
How Can Stress Affect Your Oral Health?
There are a few different ways stress can have a negative impact on your mouth:
- Poor Oral Hygiene: If you become especially busy or overwhelmed by your schedule, you might forget to take the time to brush and floss properly. Needless to say, this can eventually add cavities and gum disease to your list of worries.
- Canker Sores: It’s not entirely clear what causes these painful mouth sores, but in many cases, they seem to be connected to stress. While they won’t do any real damage, they’re still extremely uncomfortable.
- Dry Mouth: A lot of stress-related conditions can reduce saliva production and dry out your mouth. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it also hurts the body’s ability to keep oral bacteria levels under control, making tooth decay and gum infections more likely.
- Teeth Grinding: People who are stressed might grind their teeth without realizing it while they’re asleep. This will wear down your pearly whites and might also cause pain in your jaw joints.
- Gum Disease: Long-term stress hurts the immune system and leaves the gums more vulnerable to infection. This is especially a problem when you take the risks posed by poor oral hygiene and dry mouth into account.
How Can You Protect Your Oral Health from Stress?
You should always make sure your teeth and gums are well-cared for even when you’re under a lot of pressure. Here are some ways you can help protect your oral health even while you’re stressed:
- Stick to a firm oral hygiene regimen. Brush and floss at least two times a day, and schedule at least two checkups with your dentist every year to have your pearly whites examined and cleaned.
- Don’t use tobacco or alcohol to cope. Tobacco increases your risk of gum disease, and alcohol abuse is heavily linked to oral cancer.
- Make sure you’re eating well. Apples and celery are particularly good for your teeth; they increase saliva production and help scrub bacteria and food particles off the mouth.
- Consider getting a mouthguard to protect your teeth from nighttime grinding.
You can talk to your dentist about other treatment options. In the meantime, you should also take additional steps to address the underlying cause of your stress. That way, you’ll be able to live a happier, healthier life – and you’ll have a brilliant smile to match!
About the Practice
At Diamond Hill Dental, we strive to provide exceptional healthcare in every sense, including excellent customer service, dentists with high levels of expertise in various aspects of dentistry, and advanced technologies and materials. If you think stress might be having an impact on your oral health, you can schedule an appointment by visiting our website or calling (401) 333-2700.