When you start looking for a dental office near me in South Everett, you will want to find someone who understands lifestyle factors and oral health. That means understanding how stress affects the body. You may have the best oral hygiene routine, but you can still end up with teeth that need constant fillings or may deal with gum recession.
Stress releases cortisol in the body. This hormone leads to various issues, mentally and physically. Here’s a good look at the way stress is affecting your oral health.
You End Up Clenching Your Jaw
As you visit a dental office near me in South Everett, you may hear that you have signs of jaw clenching. Some people do this overnight, and there is little that you can do to prevent it. You need a mouthguard. Other people will do it during the day, and this is one of the main signs of stress.
When we’re stressed, we clench up. Our bodies tense, and this leads to us clenching the jaw. You’re damaging the enamel on the teeth, and you can end up causing jaw strain and headaches. The muscles in the mouth are connected to your neck and head, leading to health problems outside of your oral health.
Grinding Your Teeth Is More Common
Another sign that you’re stressed a dental office near me in South Everett will notice is the grinding of teeth. This causes the teeth to wear down where you are grinding them, making them weaker and more exposed to cavities. You may find that your teeth are more likely to fall out.
Grinding can happen in your sleep, and in this case you need to wear a mouthguard. During the day, you need to be more conscious about how stress is causing you to grind.
Canker Sores Can Become a Problem
Do you seem to get a lot of sores in the mouth? This makes it difficult to eat and drink, and it can even make brushing your teeth painful. It is an issue a dental office near me in South Everett can see more frequently in people with stress.
Stress affects the body’s immune system. The immune system notices problems that aren’t there, and quickly tries to deal with them. The problem is that this can lead to sores because there isn’t actually an issue to deal with.
Gum Inflammation and Infections Appear More Frequently
Have you ever woken up with a swollen gum that you can’t explain? You didn’t get food trapped in the tooth and you floss frequently, so why has it happened? This could be stress. The immune system is set off by the smallest of things, and it can lead to an inflammation response.
Inflammation and infections within the gum are more common when your body isn’t working at its best. Watch out for chronic inflammation as it can lead to gum disease.
As you look out for a new dental office near me in South Everett, talk to the dentist about different factors that affect the health of your mouth. Stress is a major reason for oral health issues, and you want to find a dentist who understands this instead of judges.
