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With the holidays rapidly approaching, the stress of buying presents and preparing for guests can take a toll on your oral health, and overall health. Stress, and our response to it, can do a number on our mouth, teeth, jaws and gums. We all know that stress can impact the immune system, but the mouth can be affected as well. Conditions related to stress include the clenching or grinding of teeth, or bruxism; mouth sores, including canker and cold sores; and poor oral hygiene. This holiday season take time to relax while avoiding common stressors to keep your mouth happy. Bruxism Stress can cause us to grind our teeth at night, leading to tooth damage. If you are diagnosed with bruxism, a night guard can often be prescribed to protect your jaw. If you already clench and grind your teeth, stress could make the habit worse. Grinding your teeth can lead to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located in the front of the ear where the skill and lower jaw meet. Visit your dentist to ask what can be done if you clench and grind your teeth. Your dentist may recommend a night guard, worn as you sleep, or another appliance to help you stop or minimize the actions. Gum Disease Studies have shown that long-term stress affects our immune systems, increasing our susceptibility to infections such as periodontal disease (gum disease). When you don't brush or floss regularly, dental plaque, a sticky film filled with bacteria, forms on your teeth. Dental plaque can infect your gums and the sulcus, the v-shaped crevice just below the gum line. Other factors can increase the risk of periodontal disease, including:
* Cigarettes and tobacco
* Genetics
* Pregnancy
* Medications Fortunately, the early stage of gum disease - gingivitis - is reversible with professional care and good home dental care. Periodontitis, however, requires more substantial gum disease treatment. So when you are feeling stressed, don't skip your dental hygiene routine. Canker Sores No one knows exactly what causes canker sores, but they are often brought on by stress. Although harmless, these small sores can be painful. Canker sores are a common nuisance that will affect most people at some point in their lives. They can appear as oral lesions on your tongue, palate or the inside of your cheeks. Canker sores are shallow and circular in appearance, and are small, painful sores that appear white or gray at the center with a surrounding red border. Stress, acidic foods and certain drugs are thought to cause a canker sore to flare up. Mouth irritations, such as biting the inside of you cheek and wearing dental braces, may also cause you to experience more frequent outbursts as well. There is no real cure for canker sores, as they often heal on their own. Now is the Time to Eliminate Stress! If you are feeling stressed, don't forget about your dental health. Take time to focus on your oral hygiene regimen, and don't use smoking or alcohol to relieve the stress you are experiencing. These habits are highly addictive, and they have damaging effects on your oral cavity. Instead, take proper measures to reduce stress in your life, such as eating well, exercising and getting plenty of sleep. If you are worried about how stress is affecting your teeth or gums, visit your dentist in Vienna. Your dentist can treat dental problems commonly caused by anxiety and offer suggestions for better dental health care.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Sanati, a leading Tysons Corner cosmetic dentist. Offering a wide array of services including teeth whitening and Implants, Dr. Sanati, Vienna implants dentist, provides the best in quality dental care for patients of all ages.
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