We all know that stress can have an impact on everything from sleep quality to cardiovascular health, so it should come as no surprise that stress can have a significant impact on your oral health. Let’s take a look at this impact and what you can do to protect your smile.
How Stress Impacts Your Mouth
Stress can trigger physical responses and disrupt daily routines, both of which can be detrimental to your dental health. Here are a few ways that stress can have an impact on teeth and gums.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching
Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding or clenching of teeth. The tension from a stressful day or chronic stress can cause you to clench or grind your jaw. It often occurs subconsciously, especially during sleep, and stress is a primary trigger.
The force exerted during these grinding episodes is significant. In fact, it is much more than what is typical and can be more damaging than you may realize.
- Worn Down Teeth: Constant grinding can wear away your tooth enamel, the hard, protective outer layer. This can expose the more sensitive dentin layer, increase your risk for cavities, and even alter the shape of your teeth.
- Fractured Teeth: In more extreme cases, the pressure from clenching can cause teeth to chip, crack, or even break, often requiring restorative treatments like dental crowns to repair.
- Jaw Pain and TMJ Issues: Bruxism places a great deal of strain on the jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joint. This can lead to soreness, chronic headaches, and difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
If you wake up with a sore jaw or a dull headache, you may be grinding your teeth at night. We can identify signs of wear during an examination and may recommend a custom-fitted nightguard to protect your teeth from further damage.
Increased Risk for Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth. It starts when the sticky film of bacteria and other biological material, which we know as plaque, is not adequately removed.
But it doesn’t stop there. Stress can make you more vulnerable to gum disease in two main ways. First, chronic stress weakens your immune system, reducing its ability to fight off the bacteria that cause gum infections. Second, stress increases the body’s production of the hormone cortisol, which promotes inflammation. Inflamed gums are more likely to become red, swollen, and bleed, which are the first signs of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease.
Vigilance about oral hygiene is the best defense against gum disease. Be consistent about brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist.
Canker Sores and Other Mouth Sores
Canker sores are small, painful sores that form inside the mouth. While their exact cause is unknown, they frequently appear during periods of high stress. It is believed that stress can trigger an immune response that leads to their development. These sores typically heal on their own within a week or two, but they can make eating and speaking uncomfortable.
Stress can also trigger an oral HSV outbreak. Distinct from canker sores, oral herpes is a common viral condition that causes sores in the soft tissues around the mouth. Cortisol released during stressful periods can suppress the immune response and lead to an outbreak.
Managing chronic and acute stress can potentially lessen instances of these types of sores. Look for ways to mitigate your stress, including regular exercise, meditation, journaling, or counseling.
Dry Mouth
Stress and anxiety can lead to a decrease in saliva production, resulting in dry mouth. Furthermore, some medications prescribed for anxiety and depression can also cause this condition. Saliva is very important for oral health. It washes away food particles, neutralizes harmful acids produced by bacteria, and helps strengthen tooth enamel. Without enough saliva, your risk for tooth decay and gum disease increases significantly.
Drinking plenty of water and chewing sugar-free gum can help stimulate saliva flow and combat the effects of dry mouth.
Neglect of Oral Hygiene
When you are feeling overwhelmed and tired from stress, it can be easy to let your daily habits slip. You might skip brushing your teeth before bed or rush through your morning routine.
Unfortunately, even a short break from consistent oral hygiene can have negative consequences. Plaque can build up quickly, leading to cavities and irritating your gums. Maintaining your brushing and flossing routine is one of the most effective ways to protect your oral health during stressful times.
Protecting Your Smile from Stress
Since stress is often the root cause of these issues, finding healthy ways to manage it is a key part of protecting your oral health.
It is also important not to let stress interfere with your professional dental care. Regular check-ups and cleanings are a necessary part of maintaining your health, as they allow us to identify and address any problems before they become more serious. If you have questions about managing stress and its effects on oral health, ask at your next dental check-up!