Stress can cause numerous problems with your health, including your oral health. Though we often acknowledge stress-related issues like high blood pressure and anxiety, we don’t recognize stress-related dental problems as often. If you are suffering from high levels of stress, you should talk to your dentist to alleviate problems this could be causing in your mouth.
Effects of Stress on Dental Health
The effects of stress on your dental health are many and can cause serious problems. If you have issues with stress in your life, your teeth, mouth, and gums can suffer issues that you might not immediately connect to your stress levels. These can include:
- Canker sores
- Teeth grinding
- Stress-eating that leads to cavities
- Less diligent oral care, resulting in decay or gum disease
- Less effective immune system
If you notice problems such as canker sores or teeth grinding, see your dentist for help. He can recommend treatment. For teeth grinding, our dentist can provide a custom-made mouthguard to keep you from damaging your teeth. Visit our dentist regularly and be sure to keep up with your normal dental care routine and eat healthy foods to avoid additional problems.
Managing Your Stress
The best way to combat the health issues related to stress is to learn how to manage it. This could include cutting back on your obligations, if possible, or looking for a less stressful job or a friendlier workplace. Other approaches can also help, such as regular meditation, exercise, or yoga. Your doctor can recommend a good approach to stress management if you can’t find something that works well for you.
In the long run, managing your stress will pay off in dividends of much improved health across the board. People under stress are more likely to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, and other major health problems. They’re also more likely to develop cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and bad habits like teeth grinding or chewing on pens and pencils. If stress is eating away at your health, find out what you can do to counter it by contacting our office today to set up an appointment with our Dr. Sheth.