How Stress Impacts Oral Health - 7 Ways Stress Affects Your Teeth

Stress and oral health have a stronger link than was previously imagined. In today’s busy and dynamic world, stress is a common concern for most people. Everyone knows that stress/negatively affects mental health. Research has also shown that stress has a negative impact on our oral health. Long-term Stress can hurt not only physically or emotionally also it has a bad impact on teeth and 
mouth.

Stress may lead to the following oral health concerns:

• Poor habits

• Mouth sores

• Grinding/Clenching your teeth

• Nail Biting

• TMJ Disorder

• Gum Disease

• Missing a regular dental appointment

Poor habits - Smoking as a means of coping may increase during stressful times that may also negatively impact our immunity and increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Mouth sores - If you suffer from occasional attacks of painful mouth ulcers, these frequently develop due to Vitamin B deficiency and extreme levels of stress. canker sores or cold sores are oftentimes caused by emotional stress. Please speak to your dentist as he/she can provide medication.

Grinding/Clenching your teeth - If you grind your teeth, you probably do it while you sleep. It's a common oral health problem. It can cause headaches, a sore jaw, and damage to your teeth. Severe teeth grinding can cause loose teeth or even broken or lost teeth.  stress can cause worrying and repetitive thoughts, which can cause grinding during sleep. 

Nail Biting - Though many people bite their nails in stressful situations, this bad habit can have serious consequences such as:  

1. Germs transfer from your nail to your mouth which causes mouth infection.

2. Warts may spread from your hand to your mouth.

TMJ Disorder - TMJ stands for temporomandibular joints. These are the joints that you use to move your lower jaw. They are located just below your ear. Swelling or stiffness in these joints can cause a TMJ disorder. Symptoms can include pain, clicking, and popping. Stress is a major cause of TMJ problems. For instance, stress can cause you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth.

Gum Disease - Gum disease is an infection of your gums. It can cause loose teeth, bleeding gums, and bad breath. Stress can also contribute to gum disease if it causes you to grind your teeth, clench your jaw, or smoke cigarettes. If you have severe pain on your teeth or mouth then you need to get treated sooner.

Missing regular dental appointments - Visiting your dentist regularly (every six months), not only provides preventative care but also facilitates diagnosing and managing dental issues that may become worse over time.

How can you manage stress?

1. Find relaxing techniques or a self-care plan to help manage difficult times.
2. Keep up with oral hygiene home care.
3. Visit your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.
4. Get plenty of rest.
5. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water.

If you have any questions about how stress can be affecting your oral health, please contact Dr. Ali Elyassi and feel free to ask the question. Call us at (301)-982-4555 and visit Greenbelt Oral and Facial Surgery at Greenbelt MD 20770.