When you’re stressed, you might feel it in your shoulders, your head, or your stomach. But did you know you can also feel it in your mouth? Stress doesn’t just affect your mind and body. It can have a surprising impact on your teeth and gums.
From clenching your jaw at night to skipping your brushing routine, the effects of stress can show up in your smile in ways you might not expect. The dentists at Valley Dental Health in Timonium, MD can help you with all your oral health needs, including those related to stress. In this post, we’ll break down the connection between stress and your oral health, and explain what you can do to protect your smile, even during busy or challenging times.
Ways Stress Affects Oral Health
Teeth Grinding
As was previously mentioned, teeth grinding is an outward sign that stress is causing damage in your mouth. While teeth grinding isn’t just associated with stress, it’s a leading cause but other conditions may be contributing to it. If your jaw and muscles aren’t in alignment, this can also cause tension and cause you to grind your teeth. You will begin to feel headaches and facial pain.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is usually caused by the bacteria found in plaque. When enough bacteria builds up and is left untreated, it will cause periodontal disease. This also causes stress. Stress causes excess bacteria in our mouths, the excess bacteria then bonds with the fluids naturally in our mouths and eventually forms plaque.
Then without treatment, tartar forms. Our bodies will try to get rid of the bacteria around our gums causing the gums to swell and irritate you. As they swell, they pull back from our teeth allowing more bacteria to fill in those spaces.
TMJ Disorders
Many TMJ disorders can be directly related to stress. One of the ways that we deal with stress is to clench our jaw and in severe cases grind our teeth. This can cause headaches and muscle aches within and around the jaw.
It may even cause a misalignment of the jaw. Reducing stress can go a long way in reducing the pain and discomfort from teeth grinding and TMJ issues.
Dry Mouth
Another sign that you’re suffering from stress is with a dry mouth. You might expect a damp environment to be a breeding ground for bacteria, but a dry mouth is also a breeding ground for bacteria. A dry mouth has less saliva to wash away bacteria that can eventually cause periodontal disease.
Another issue is that when people are under stress, they’re less likely to have healthy habits like drinking enough water and eating a nutritious diet. These factors can cause a dry mouth, and allow bacteria and gum disease to flourish.
Unhealthy Stress-Related Habits
Often, people turn to specific habits to cope with stress. Many of these can be directly harmful to your teeth. These include:
- Nail Biting: This nervous habit can chip teeth and put stress on your jaw.
- Chewing on Objects: Biting on pens, pencils, or ice cubes can cause similar damage.
- Increased Sugar or Carb Intake: Craving comfort foods? Sugary snacks and starchy foods feed the bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities.
- Smoking or Vaping: Many people smoke more when stressed. This significantly increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
Being aware of these habits is the first step toward replacing them with healthier coping mechanisms. Try going for a walk or chewing sugar-free gum.
Canker Sores and Mouth Ulcers
Have you ever noticed a small, painful sore inside your mouth during a particularly stressful week? These are often canker sores, and stress is a common trigger. While the exact reason isn’t fully understood, high stress levels can weaken your immune system.
This makes it easier for these sores to develop. They’re usually harmless and go away on their own. But if you get them frequently, it can be a sign that your stress levels are taking a toll on your oral health.
Poor Oral Hygiene Habits
When life gets overwhelming, your healthy routines are often the first thing to go. You might find yourself skipping brushing or flossing because you’re too tired or distracted. Stress can zap your motivation, and create a cycle where poor oral hygiene allows plaque to build up.
This then causes more dental problems and even more stress. Making a conscious effort to stick to your routine, even when busy, is crucial for breaking this cycle.
Weakened Immune System and Healing
Stress doesn’t just make you feel run down. It can actually slow your body’s ability to fight infection and heal. This means that if you have a small cut in your mouth, a minor gum irritation, or are recovering from a dental procedure, stress can make it take longer to heal.
A weakened immune system also makes it harder for your body to fight off the bacteria that cause gum disease. You’ll be more susceptible to infections.
Managing Your Oral Health When You’re Stressed
We all have stress in our lives. The challenging part is trying to manage it. Oftentimes, we neglect our oral health but taking care of our teeth and gums during stressful times is even more important. Establishing and keeping a good oral hygiene routine under low stress will help you keep a healthy mouth during stressful periods.
Having a few stress-relieving activities available will keep both your body and mind fit. Your dentist at Valley Dental Health in Timonium, MD, can assist you in finding ways to keep your teeth healthy while under stress. Please schedule an appointment today.