When a person experiences stress, the brain signals to create cortisol, a hormone that puts your body on high alert against perceived danger. Throughout history, ancient humans could survive predators, attacking enemies, and other threats because of this natural response. Nowadays, even with fewer of these serious risks, humans still can have high cortisol levels in lower-stakes situations. After being in traffic, ending a phone call with a tough client, or dealing with young kids all day, you can feel chronic stress, but it can seriously harm your oral health over time.
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