Chronic stress can take its toll on your mind and your body. Increased cortisol levels, high blood pressure, and hormonal imbalances are just a few ways that outside influences can negatively impact your overall health. But what you may not have realized is that it can affect your oral health, too. Here are some dangers of letting your mental health harm your mouth, and what you can do to protect your smile!
How Can Mental Health Affect Oral Health?
It may seem a little strange to think of your brain influencing your oral health, but the truth is that the connection between the two may be stronger than you think. Stress manifests itself in many ways, including through bruxism, a condition which causes you to clench your jaw or grind your teeth. This can often lead to excessive wear on the teeth, chips or cracks, and even tooth sensitivity. It can also cause jaw stiffness and pain, and contribute to or worsen a temporomandibular joint disorder.
Worse still, for many patients who suffer from poor mental health, basic oral hygiene can be a daily struggle. Finding the time and energy to care for your teeth and gums can be difficult under ideal circumstances. When you are depressed, anxious, and constantly stressed out, it can easily fall to the wayside, increasing your risk of cavities, decay and gum disease.
How to Protect Your Smile from Chronic Stress
Because there are so many ways that chronic stress can negatively affect your teeth and gums, it is important to keep up with your regular, preventive exam and cleaning appointments with your dentist. This will allow your dental team the opportunity to monitor the condition of your teeth and gums and help treat and prevent any issues that could be developing.
If you experience any signs of teeth grinding (bruxism) your dentist can create a custom bite guard which can be worn at night and in times of high stress to help absorb some of the impact on your teeth. This will help protect them from excessive wear and breakage, as well as cushioning your jaw to minimize strain that may damage your temporomandibular joints.
Finally, don’t discount the importance of regular oral hygiene. On days when it’s a struggle just to get out of bed, it’s still very important to care for your teeth and gums, as this can protect you from cavities, gum disease, and even a variety of overall health problems including Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Remember, while your mental health may seem separate from your oral health, all systems of your body are related. Thus, to help protect your body, mind, and mouth from the ravages of chronic stress, keep your smile safe by regular oral hygiene and visits to your dentist. If you find yourself struggling with poor mental health, seek the help of a trusted therapist, counselor, or talk to your primary care physician about your options.
About Our Practice
At Legacy Trails Dental of Plano, our trio of talented and caring dentists is proud to join you in protecting your beautiful smile. If you suffer from chronic stress, safeguarding your teeth is of the utmost importance, and we’re committed to supporting you with a variety of oral health solutions like preventive care, mouth guards for bruxism, and TMJ therapy. To schedule an appointment with us for any oral health matter, please visit our website, or call us today at 469-208-6017.