How Stress Affect Oral Health?

Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. Stress is the body's way of protecting itself and preparing to meet a challenge. Stress can affect your oral health in many ways. It can cause you to grind or clench your teeth, a condition known as bruxism. It can also cause you to neglect your oral hygiene, leading to tooth decay and cavities. It can also increase your risk for gum disease, which is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Stress and Bacteria

When we're stressed, we tend to clench or grind our teeth. Grinding and clenching cause damage to your teeth's enamel and increase your risk of developing tooth decay. It can also place a great deal of stress on surrounding gum tissue, which can result in gum recession. As time goes on, more gum tissue is lost, and the exposed tooth roots become susceptible to decay. This can lead to needing a root canal or even losing the affected tooth.

Stress and Gum Disease

The body responds to stress with an increased heart rate, constricted blood vessels, and other effects that can negatively affect the health of the mouth. During times of high stress or anxiety, people are more prone to illnesses like colds and the flu; additionally, they may experience an increase in tooth grinding and jaw clenching. This can cause damage to the teeth and lead to a host of other issues.

Stress and Pain

While pain and stress can both be difficult to deal with, they can also cause similar problems in the body. When the body experiences pain, the brain releases chemicals that trigger the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce more cortisol and adrenaline, which increase blood pressure and cause the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream. This can cause inflammation throughout the body and lead to high blood pressure, headaches, digestive problems, and more. On the other hand, when a person is under stress, the body releases hormones that cause the same reactions. As a result, changes in appetite and gastric upset can occur. Since oral infections are often caused by bacteria, they can also result from stress-induced gastrointestinal problems.

The best way to deal with stress and pain is to be proactive about your oral health care routine and make sure to visit your dentist at least twice per year for checkups and cleanings. These appointments can help prevent oral health issues and help detect them early when they do occur so they can be treated as quickly as possible. That way, you can focus on everything else in your life with less stress or discomfort!

If you're dealing with pain or stress in addition to your oral health concerns, make sure to tell our dentist about it so we can make a plan to address all of your needs when you visit our office for a checkup or any other treatment you may need. 

To learn more, visit Mission Creek Family Dentistry at 9460 Cuyamaca St #101, Santee, CA 92071. Contact us at (619) 596-1128 or schedule an appointment online.