Can Stress Affect My Teeth

Ever Wondered If Stress Could Affect Your Teeth

Thinking about stress is stressful, right? You should be aware of how stress can affect you so you can combat the problem immediately and not take it lightly. We have put below some ways in which stress manifests itself and can affect your oral health.

Grinding and Clenching

When you grind or clench your teeth, the technical term for it is bruxism. You might not even know that you have bruxism, since the grinding and clenching typically happens at night while you are asleep. If you notice that the tips of your teeth appear flatter than they once did, or if your teeth become extremely sensitive, you might have bruxism. Sore facial muscles, pain in jaw joints and neck region are other symptoms to look out for. A dentist can determine if bruxism is a serious problem for you and recommend the treatment. Usually, the treatment may include wearing a custom mouth guard overnight or an occlusal therapy to relax your facial muscles.

Gum Disease

Stress can increase your chances of experiencing gum disease. Gum disease starts out as gingivitis and progresses to a more severe form i.e.periodontitis, if left untreated. The symptoms of gum disease that you should not be taken lightly are swollen gums, bleeding gums, blood stains while biting into a fruit like an apple. In periodontitis, the gums pull away from the teeth and result in creation of pockets that becoming the breeding ground for infections. Maintenance of good oral hygiene can greatly reduce the risk of contracting gum disease. At Dent Ally, dental clinic based in Delhi at Gulmohar Park and Vasant Kunj, we are focused towards improving the oral health of our patients.

TMD and TMJ

TMD is the abbreviation for “temporomandibular disorders.” TMD takes in a range of different disorders that affect the muscles and joints in your jaw and neck. TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint” and refers to a condition that is exclusive to the joint that connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull. If you experience sore jaw muscles or popping and clicking in your jaw while closing and opening your mouth, you may have TMD or TMJ. You might also notice severe pain or trouble moving your jaw up and down. Constant clenching of your teeth due to stress and frustration can contribute to TMD and TMJ development. This clenching is usually involuntary. In case you have unexplained headaches, body ache, neck pains, you should consult a dentist. At Dent Ally, dental clinic based in Delhi at Gulmohar Park and Vasant Kunj, we have dentists who are specialized to treat this condition.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth occurs when your saliva glands do not produce enough saliva to adequately moisten the inside your mouth. Medications that you might take for stresscan cause dry mouth. Stress might also move you to breathe more with your mouth, and the incoming air can lead to dryer conditions in your mouth. Dry mouth can increase your risk of cavities and make chewing and swallowing uncomfortable. Drinking water and using a specially designed mouthwash may help relieve your dry mouth to a degree, but it is important to address the underlying cause of your dry mouth, whether that is stress, medication, or another health condition such as diabetes.

Canker Sores / Ulcers

Canker sores, otherwise known as mouth ulcers, are simply painful sores inside your mouth. If you’re too vigorous when you’re cleaning your teeth, or if you chew your tongue or cheeks, you may experience canker sores. Research indicates that stress can increase the risk of developing canker sores and ulcers. You might be able to treat canker sores by yourself by using home-made remedies. However, severe canker sores and ulcers may require professional medical attention of a dentist.

Infection

Stress can weaken your immune system, increasing your risk for oral infections. When you add this increased risk to some of the other oral stress-related symptoms, you have a recipe for disaster. Try to prevent infections by maintaining good oral hygiene habits and by eating immune-boosting foods.

What to Do About Stress-Related Teeth Problems

The answer is simple: Look for ways to mitigate your stress. Identify ways in which you can adjust your schedule or do something as extreme as look for another job that will put fewer demands on you. You can also use stress-reducing techniques to cultivate a calm outlook. You must pay a visit to a dentist as the damage done to teeth can’t undo itself as teeth are the only part of the body that can’t heal itself. A dentistcan evaluate just how much stress has affected your oral health and recommend the correct treatment to get you the perfect smile and ensure oral health. Stress may be unavoidable sometimes, but there are things you can do to stop stress from taking a heavy toll on your oral health. By being aware of the symptoms of stress-related oral conditions, you canatleast reduce the damage that can be caused by stress. In today’s life stress cant be avoided, but atleast lets prevent the damage that can be caused by it. Dent Ally is listed as one of the best dental clinics in Delhi and is known for its team of specialized dentists.Dent Ally is equipped with latest and state of the art equipment and technology. Dent Ally has two centers in South Delhi: Gulmohar Park and Vasant Kunj.