Chronic stress can be detrimental in a wide variety of ways, taking its toll on both your mental and your physical well being. Oftentimes, we allow little stressors to build up until we reach a breaking point and our bodies have to tell us very firmly that it needs a rest – leading to a massive illness or infection that renders us bed-bound. Finding healthy outlets to manage your stress is not only good for your health, it can also save your smile.
Four Ways Stress Can Harm Your Oral Health
If you’ve been chasing a promotion at work, training for a high-intensity sporting event, or caring for a loved one who hasn’t been well, then there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with quite a bit of stress in your life.
Even without you offloading your burdens onto us, a quick look into your mouth can reveal a lot to us about your current stress levels. These four clues are all major red flags that we have a stressed-out patient in the exam chair:
| • | Canker Sores: These little painful ulcers in your mouth are a sure sign that you’re stressed out. While researchers haven’t quite pinpointed the relationship between canker sores and stress, they do know that they occur more frequently in people who have higher stress levels. |
| • | Broken or Chipped Teeth: Grinding your teeth, also known as “bruxism”, is another clue that you’re dealing with stress. Signs of bruxism include worn-down enamel on your teeth, chips, and flattening of the tips of your teeth. |
| • | Gum Disease: When you’re stressed out, your immune system can become compromised, opening you up to a higher risk of illness and infection. The bacteria in your mouth are opportunistic, and once they can sense you’re overwhelmed, they will attack your gums, leading to early-stage periodontal disease (gingivitis). |
| • | Poor Oral Health: It never seems to fail- once we become overwhelmed with stress, we tend to start neglecting our own health. Our diets become more about convenience, our exercise tends to fall to the wayside, and we start to neglect our teeth. |
If you’re stressed out, we can tell. Finding healthy ways to manage your stress, such as taking time for meditation or yoga, can be highly beneficial. It’s important to take time for self-care when you’re under duress, and don’t set your diet, fitness, and oral health aside when the things in your life seem overwhelming.
While we can’t make the stress go away, we can help you take care of your teeth and gums when you’re stressed out. Don’t let gum disease be another stressor in your life. Give our office a call to schedule an appointment and allow our skilled and compassionate dental staff care for you and your teeth.
