Surprising Ways Stress Can Affect Your Oral Health
Many of us know all too well how stress can hurt our bodies in different ways. It is well known that stress can cause a lot of health issues. Stress can cause a wide range of problems, from heart problems to problems with your teeth. When you’re nervous or stressed, you might get a headache or a stomachache. Did you know that stress can change what’s going on in your mouth in a lot of ways? We’ll talk about how stress can hurt your mouth health in different ways and what you can do about it.
Conditions Stress Causes in the Mouth
These are some of the things that can happen to your mouth when you’re stressed.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding, also called “bruxism,” can cause many problems in an otherwise healthy mouth. When you grind or clench your teeth, you can damage the enamel and give yourself jaw pain and headaches. In the worst cases, it can make your teeth loose, break, or even fall out.
Many people grind their teeth while they sleep, and they don’t even know it. If you have to deal with this, talk to Dr. Motiwala about it. Then, he will help you get a mouth guard to protect your teeth.
Poor Oral Hygiene
When someone is under a lot of worry, they may stop brushing and flossing their teeth as often as they should. This could be because they are too busy or because worry has made them depressed. If you don’t take care of your teeth, you may have more problems in your mouth, which can make you feel more stressed. You could get gum disease and teeth decay before you know it.
Jaw problems, like TMJ
People often start biting their jaws when they are under a lot of stress. This can cause problems with the joints and jaw. A lot of people also say that keeping all their stress in their jaws gives them pain in their ears and faces.
One of the jaw problems that can be caused by stress is TMJ. The two joints we use to move our lower jaw are called the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). They are right next to our ears. TMJ disease can happen when the joints swell up or get stiff, and you may feel pain, popping, or clicking.
Lowered Immune System and Gum Disease
Stress can make your immune system work less well, which makes you more likely to get gum disease. When you have gum disease, your gums may swell and bleed. Both of these problems are very hard to deal with. They can also make your breath smell bad, which is embarrassing.
Dry Mouth
Stress can make your mouth feel dry. Many of the medicines that doctors often give to treat problems caused by worry also make your mouth dry. This is bad because the first thing that fights germs in the mouth is saliva. There is more tooth decay, gum disease, and illness when there is less saliva.
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome is a condition in which your mouth feels hot and dry and burns. It can be caused by stress or worry.
Oral Sores and Infections
When people are under too much stress, they often start to get small sores in their mouths. Stress can also make them start to see more red and white spots and white lines.
Cold Sores
The HSV-1 herpes simplex virus is what causes cold sores. Most of the time, tooth work, sun exposure, or stress are to blame. Most of the time, these sores are safe, but they can be painful. Most of the time, these go away in a couple of weeks. But if they don’t, talk to your doctor. He or she may give you a rinse, gel, or another treatment that you put on your skin.
Besides worry, a lack of vitamin B, irritation in the mouth, or an injury to the mouth can also cause cold sores.
Nail Biting
You might not think of biting your nails as bad for your teeth, but it can cause a number of problems. This habit can make you feel stressed and cause your teeth to move out of place. It can also hurt the teeth in a direct way. Another risk is that germs on your fingernails can get into your mouth and cause illnesses. If you have warts on your hands, they can spread to your mouth.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay can be caused by a mix of the above things. The things on the list above that are most likely to cause gum disease are a weak immune system, dry lips, and not taking care of your teeth.
Different Methods to Help Ease Your Symptoms
There are a few ways to deal with the health problems caused by worry. It will help if you can handle your worry better. Lessening the symptoms can be done through meditation, yoga, music, and getting rid of things that cause worry. You should also try to get enough sleep at night and move around a healthy amount.
If you have cold spots, you should try to stay out of the sun or wear sunscreen. Antiviral drugs can also stop some cold sores from coming on.
Remember that using alcohol or tobacco to deal with stress will only make things worse and hurt your mouth health. If you are in pain, you might want to try a restorative massage.
If you have jaw pain, try to stay away from crunchy or hard foods because they will make the pain worse. You can also talk to your dentist about anti-inflammatory drugs that can help reduce the swelling in your jaw joint, which is probably what is hurting you.
If you grind your teeth at night, you might want to get a nightguard made for your mouth. So, your teeth won’t be able to grind against each other. It can also make a cushion for your joints and muscles in the mouth, making them less painful and less stressed.
Everyone who is stressed out should try their best to keep up with their normal oral hygiene practice. This means you should brush your teeth twice a day, floss every day, and go to the dentist at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings.
Dr. Motiwala in International Press
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