Nobody ever wants to feel stressed out—the physical toll that chronic stress can have on your body is simply too great to ignore, and at times, quite a bit of a burden to handle! It can cause your head to hurt, your stomach to ache, or even your body to become fatigued or exhausted. However, did you know that chronic stress can also cause problems for your teeth and gums? Continue reading below to learn a little more about some of the oral conditions that can be triggered by stress, along with some dentist-approved tips that may be able to help reduce some of your symptoms.
Understanding Chronic Stress
Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation, but usually, it’s not so technical—we often immediately notice whenever we’re feeling stressed out, due to how it influences our body. Additional hormones are released, the heart rate and blood pressure can become elevated. Normally, stress fades—but it can also be chronic in patients, meaning their hormone levels are constantly off-base. This often leads to bodily issues like depression, heart disease, weight gain, poor memory, and more.
Oral Conditions Caused by Stress
Although it might not seem like it’d be the case, chronic stress can have a huge impact on your oral health, affecting you in various ways such as:
· Jaw issues or disorders that affect the TMJ (temporomandibular joints), which are responsible for connecting your jaw to your skull. This can cause pain around the cheeks, ears, or face.
· Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. It’s more likely to happen during the night while a patient is sleeping, sometimes making it tough to diagnose.
· Canker sores, which can be triggered by vitamin B deficiency or another type of mouth injury. Studies now show that stress is a major trigger for canker sores, as well as other sores including ulcers and red or white spots.
· Poor oral hygiene, caused by a lack of good brushing and flossing habits; this can occur if you’re too busy or forgetful to stay on top of things, and you might wind up with cavities or gum disease.
Tips for Reducing Your Symptoms
Chronic stress isn’t something that you should have to live with and silently suffer from, nor are the resulting oral health issues! It’s important to get to the root of the problem and figure out what’s stressing you out—otherwise, the issues will likely remain present and unwavering. That said, here are some tips for relief from potentially painful oral symptoms:
· Talk with your dentist about treatment options if you suffer from bruxism; generally, a custom-fitted nightguard is the go-to solution for these types of issues.
· Avoid particularly hard or crunchy foods whenever you’re in pain.
· Don’t cope with alcohol, tobacco, or other stimulants, as they might intensify your oral symptoms.
· Consider taking over-the-counter pain relievers, using cold compresses, or managing pain through gentle massages.
About the Author
Dr. Joseph Costa received his DMD from the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and has proudly served patients and families in the Worcester, MA community for several decades! He’s also a member of several notable professional organizations, including the Academy of General Dentistry in which he holds Master status. If you have any questions about the blog, or you’d like to get in touch with Dr. Costa’s team to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out online or over the phone for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 755-1980.