How Stress Can Negatively Impact Your Oral Health

How Stress Can Negatively Impact Your Oral Health

While stress is a normal part of life, it can be harmful to your health and your appearance. Not only does frequent stress lead to heart disease, wrinkles, and muscle tension, but it also causes a number of oral health issues. Here is a quick look at just a few of the potential oral health consequences of unmanaged stress.
Sores
There are a number of causes for sores that appear in and around the mouth—most commonly canker sores and cold sores. Stress can be a factor in the appearance of both of these types of sores, which may be very painful and irritating. Cold sores can also be a source of embarrassment, as they are typically visible on the lips.
Gum disease
If you use food or alcohol as stress relief, you might consider an alternative stress-fighting strategy. Comfort foods that are high in fat or sugar can promote tooth decay and poor gum health. Alcohol leads to dry mouth, which creates an environment more hospitable to bacteria and plaque. Stress might lead you to other unhealthy habits such as neglecting to floss, putting you at high risk for gum disease.
Clenching and grinding
Stress can manifest itself in your sleep in the form of tooth grinding. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you will wear away tooth enamel and create tension in the jaw. You may be prescribed a night guard to keep your jaw in place and protect your teeth as you rest. Daytime grinding and clenching may be harder to treat, as you will need to be more aware of this habit and work to break it. Prolonged grinding and clenching can lead to TMJ disorder.
To manage your oral health with excellent dental care in the Tucson area, visit the office of John Carson, DDS. Call (520) 514-7203 to schedule your first appointment.