You may be juggling so many different things at once. Household chores may be stuck in the back of your mind while work projects are at the forefront, but these can leave you feeling stressed. You may experience it chronically, but this isn’t the best for your well-being. Not only can it impact your overall health, but it can also affect your smile as well. Here’s how and ways to keep your grin protected.
What Does Chronic Stress Do to My Oral Health?
If you have chronic stress, then you may notice it manifesting through your oral health. Many people tend to grind or clench their teeth when they are experiencing this. It may be subconscious that you may not notice it until your jaw becomes sore or you wear down your enamel a bit.
Your immune system becomes affected by stress as well. Your body won’t be able to fight off infections, and this can affect your gums in particular! You may be at a higher risk of periodontal disease, which can cause tooth loss in severe cases.
Dry mouth is also another possibility, which can spell bad news for your oral health in general. You won’t be able to produce adequate saliva, which helps wash harmful bacteria and food particles. When they stick to your smile, you increase your risk of cavities and other dental problems.
Lastly, you may even neglect your teeth as well! With a lot on your mind, you may not want to brush for the full two minutes or floss as consistently. Plaque can start to build up and lead to some issues.
How Can I Protect My Smile Despite Being Stressed?
It’s important you do your best in protecting both your oral health and your overall well-being. It may seem like a tough feat, but you should try to manage your stress levels. Here are just a few tips that have helped some people:
- Find what’s causing a large part of your stress and knock it out! You can also complete many of the smaller menial ones, so they don’t pile up.
- Do breathing exercises and meditate. You may feel more grounded and able to process everything going on in your head.
- Talk to your friends, family, or a professional to get advice and vent about how you feel.
- Set aside a couple of minutes each day to brush and floss fully. Make sure it’s nonnegotiable so you don’t do anything else but take care of your smile during it.
- Get a nightguard to protect against teeth grinding or clenching during the night.
- Schedule visits with your dentist ahead of time. By having them locked in, you can use these checkups and cleanings as “you” time, where your provider does all the work, and you sit back and get to a healthier smile.
About the Practice
At Dental Center of Lakewood, you benefit from the skilled leadership of Dr. Travis Spillman and Dr. Jacquelyn Green. With over four decades of experience split between them, they treat the Dallas community with high-quality dental care. By using state-of-the-art technology, you can enjoy more effective and efficient cleanings, checkups, and treatments in general! If you are due for your next semi-annual visit, schedule an appointment or call our office at (214) 823-5253.