How Can Stress Affect Your Oral Health?

Stress can have a negative impact on your overall health. It can lead to chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. It can also affect your oral health.

Stress and Your Health

When we feel stressed, our body responds by releasing hormones that increase blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar. When this stress response happens over and over, it can damage the immune system, suppress digestive function, and increase the risk of serious disease. This is why stress can be so harmful to your oral health. Even when you’re relaxed at home, your body may still be experiencing the effects of a stressful day. The chronic state of stress can lead to many oral health concerns.

What Can Happen In My Mouth When I’m Stressed?

• Bruxism – Clenching or grinding teeth together can cause damage to your enamel as the teeth grind against each other. This can also irritate the jaw muscles.
• Dry mouth – When we’re stressed, the body produces less saliva than normal. This leaves the mouth more susceptible to tooth decay.
• Tooth decay – Chronic stress increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. This can lead to cavities, infections, and tooth loss.
• Jaw pain – Chronic tension from stress can lead to sore jaws. Often, this causes people to grind their teeth more to relieve their pain.
• Sleep apnea – Stress and anxiety have also been linked to sleep apnea. This condition is caused when the throat closes up during sleep, blocking airflow and causing snoring or even choking while sleeping. In severe cases, sleep apnea can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

How To Manage Stress Levels?

Reducing your stress can help protect your health in many areas. Managing your levels of stress will also help you improve your overall health and prevent many health concerns related to poor oral care. 

Practice yoga or other relaxation techniques. It’s important for patients to have a professional cleaning at a minimum every six months to help minimize the effects of stress on their oral health. This can help prevent the development of many common dental issues and reduce the risk of serious harm to their teeth and gums as a result of poor oral hygiene habits.

To learn more tips to keep teeth healthy, visit West Valley Natural Dentistry, Inc at 9502 W. Fairview Ave., Boise, ID 83704, or call (208) 377-2223.