We all experience stress and anxiety every day at work, however, excess stress can cause several health problems to develop. This chronic stress has also been linked as a trigger for several oral health disorders including:
- Teeth Grinding And Clenching: This can cause loose, worn, or fractured teeth.
- TMJ Disorder: A painful, popping jaw that can result from teeth grinding and stress.
- Gum Disease: The stress hormone cortisol has been linked with gum tissue destruction and a weakened immune system.
- Oral Tissue Problems: Stress is a trigger for burning mouth syndrome, canker sores, lichen planus, and cold sores.
As if you aren’t stressed enough, you can develop oral health problems as a result of it. If you experience any of these issues, see your dentist for treatment. However, it is always best to go to the source of the problem and reduce your stress through:
- Meditation
- Exercise
- Counseling
- A healthy diet
You can also try relaxing your facial muscles during the day to prevent teeth grinding when you sleep. Do this by keeping your lips together, your teeth apart, and resting your tongue lightly against the back of your front teeth. Also don’t forget to keep good oral hygiene practices every day.
