Stress and Oral Health: Effects and Tips for Prevention

At Hebert Family Dentistry, we help you take charge of your dental health. Proper dental care is crucial for overall health, as various factors can impact oral health. One factor that can negatively impact your dental health is stress. Having too much stress can often lead to psychological and physical ailments, including your mouth and teeth. Stress can have many sources, ranging from finances to issues in your personal or private life. Stress can sometimes be caused by positive events, leading to changes in your life, such as starting a new job or moving. No matter the cause, stress can impact your oral health in many ways.

Six Ways Stress Negatively Impacts Your Oral Health

Excessive stress can negatively impact oral health in several ways. Here are some of the most common examples.

1. Grinding Your Teeth: also referred to as bruxism, teeth grinding can be a typical stress response. Often, you may do this without being aware of it, such as during sleep. It can lead to tooth damage, such as chipping, and associated symptoms, such as headaches or pain in your jaw.   
2. Dry Mouth: reduced saliva can cause your mouth to dry out more easily. Without enough saliva, in addition to your mouth being dry, you have a higher risk of cavities and bad breath. This is due to particles and bacteria building up due to a lack of moisture to remove them.
3. Canker Sores: These small ulcers can be caused by stress. While not dangerous, they are painful and make everyday activities uncomfortable.
4. Sensitive Teeth: Another symptom of increased stress is tooth sensitivity. This can make your mouth highly sensitive to cold or hot foods and liquids, causing you to avoid certain foods and leading to general pain.
5. Gun Ailments: When you are overly stressed, your body is less effective at fighting off ailments. This can lead to an increase in bacteria in your mouth, negatively impacting your gum health. Signs include swelling, reddened gums, bleeding when brushing, or consistently bad breath.
6. Eating Habits: Stress often negatively impacts your diet, which can lead to increased snacks and sugary drinks such as sodas and coffee beverages to help you relax. This increased sugar can be bad for your teeth and overall oral health.

Four Prevention Tips To Improve Oral Health

You can take steps to limit the impact stress has on your oral health. While you may not always be able to reduce the outside events causing your daily stress, the following methods can reduce the overall impact on your oral health.

1. Perform Daily Care: Dialysis oral care, such as brushing twice daily, flossing, and using mouthwash, can help keep your mouth and teeth safe. This regular care helps prevent the build-up of bacteria that leads to conditions such as cavities. While stress can make ordinary care easier to miss, reminders and scheduling can help, as can easily accessible dental supplies, such as keeping dental floss in your bag.
2. Drink Enough Water: Staying hydrated offers several health advantages, including keeping your mouth from drying out and washing away any leftover food particles from recent eating.    
3. Try to Reduce Your Stress Levels: While you can’t always control the sources of stress, you can manage your reactions. Taking time for deep breaths, workouts, or meditation can help keep your stress levels under control.
4. Don’t Miss Checkups: Visiting the dentist for regular care and cleaning helps keep your mouth and teeth in good condition. Regular visits also allow you to detect potential issues, such as gum ailments or tooth damage.

When You Need Dental Care, You Can Depend On

At Hebert Family Dentistry, we are dedicated to providing you with the best and most current dental healthcare. We use the latest techniques and industry advancements to keep you and your family healthy. When you need dental care for your whole family, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services.

At Hebert Family Dentistry, we help you take charge of your dental health. Proper dental care is crucial for overall health, as various factors can impact oral health. One factor that can negatively impact your dental health is stress. Having too much stress can often lead to psychological and physical ailments, including your mouth and teeth. Stress can have many sources, ranging from finances to issues in your personal or private life. Stress can sometimes be caused by positive events, leading to changes in your life, such as starting a new job or moving. No matter the cause, stress can impact your oral health in many ways.

Six Ways Stress Negatively Impacts Your Oral Health

Excessive stress can negatively impact oral health in several ways. Here are some of the most common examples.

1. Grinding Your Teeth: also referred to as bruxism, teeth grinding can be a typical stress response. Often, you may do this without being aware of it, such as during sleep. It can lead to tooth damage, such as chipping, and associated symptoms, such as headaches or pain in your jaw.   
2. Dry Mouth: reduced saliva can cause your mouth to dry out more easily. Without enough saliva, in addition to your mouth being dry, you have a higher risk of cavities and bad breath. This is due to particles and bacteria building up due to a lack of moisture to remove them.
3. Canker Sores: These small ulcers can be caused by stress. While not dangerous, they are painful and make everyday activities uncomfortable.
4. Sensitive Teeth: Another symptom of increased stress is tooth sensitivity. This can make your mouth highly sensitive to cold or hot foods and liquids, causing you to avoid certain foods and leading to general pain.
5. Gun Ailments: When you are overly stressed, your body is less effective at fighting off ailments. This can lead to an increase in bacteria in your mouth, negatively impacting your gum health. Signs include swelling, reddened gums, bleeding when brushing, or consistently bad breath.
6. Eating Habits: Stress often negatively impacts your diet, which can lead to increased snacks and sugary drinks such as sodas and coffee beverages to help you relax. This increased sugar can be bad for your teeth and overall oral health.

Four Prevention Tips To Improve Oral Health

You can take steps to limit the impact stress has on your oral health. While you may not always be able to reduce the outside events causing your daily stress, the following methods can reduce the overall impact on your oral health.

1. Perform Daily Care: Dialysis oral care, such as brushing twice daily, flossing, and using mouthwash, can help keep your mouth and teeth safe. This regular care helps prevent the build-up of bacteria that leads to conditions such as cavities. While stress can make ordinary care easier to miss, reminders and scheduling can help, as can easily accessible dental supplies, such as keeping dental floss in your bag.
2. Drink Enough Water: Staying hydrated offers several health advantages, including keeping your mouth from drying out and washing away any leftover food particles from recent eating.    
3. Try to Reduce Your Stress Levels: While you can’t always control the sources of stress, you can manage your reactions. Taking time for deep breaths, workouts, or meditation can help keep your stress levels under control.
4. Don’t Miss Checkups: Visiting the dentist for regular care and cleaning helps keep your mouth and teeth in good condition. Regular visits also allow you to detect potential issues, such as gum ailments or tooth damage.

When You Need Dental Health Care, You Can Depend On

At Hebert Family Dentistry, we are dedicated to providing you with the best and most current dental healthcare. We use the latest techniques and industry advancements to keep you and your family healthy. When you need dental care for your whole family, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services.