You already know that stress affects your smile. It ceases to be genuine and warm when you are stressed. But did you know that stress affects your dental health? What stress does not affect, you would ask. True, it is an all-pervasive problem. And it can trigger many more – psychological, physical, social. We will restrict our discussion to stress and dental health. Let’s look at the connection closely.
People who are stressed ignore a lot of important things including oral care. This makes the mouth susceptible to various dental problems and gum diseases. Some start smoking or drinking more in order to ‘de-stress’ themselves. This increases the chances of being affected by gum diseases and other dental problems.
Some people start grinding their teeth when stressed. This habit causes their teeth to chip or break.
If stress prolongs for too long, it makes it difficult for the body to fight infections, making you prone to the gum diseases – gingivitis and periodontitis.
Stress is directly responsible for conditions like dry mouth, canker sores, burning mouth, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), and myofacial pain dysfunction (MPD).
Some anti-depressants and stress-relieving medicine can cause dental problems such as dry mouth. Also, one of the side effects of such medication is vomiting which can cause erosion of the teeth enamel.
Don’t stop paying attention to yourself because you are stressed about something. Don’t miss your appointments with the dentist. Maintaining a smile will not only help reduce your stress but also brighten others’ days.
Keep smiling!
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