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.
Grinding or Clenching Your Teeth
When upset, you may find yourself clenching or grinding your upper and lower teeth together. Other people may only do it while they sleep at night without even realizing it! Clenching and grinding, called bruxism, can have multiple effects on your oral cavity over time.
Enamel Wear
Your teeth contain the strongest material inside your body, but enamel still can’t withstand your biting force of bruxism. Repeatedly exposed to this power, your enamel can begin to chip or wear down certain areas. Without stopping, excessive rubbing and pressure continue until teeth crack or become so weak they decay.
Although your teeth can be repaired with dental restorations, it is almost always better to prevent this kind of harm before it happens. Instead of waiting until something catastrophic occurs, you can proactively prevent trouble with an oral appliance that stands between your upper and lower teeth to shield the enamel from further harm.
Jaw Joint or Muscle Pain
When your teeth clench or grind together, the muscles in your jaw, as well as the joint, work hard to exert such strong force. Over time, these muscles can become sore or tired, and the joint itself can actually become damaged, misaligned, or very painful.
Fortunately, to address teeth grinding and clenching, especially while you sleep, your dentist can provide an oral appliance called a nightguard. On top of separating your teeth, this hard plastic provides an angle that eases tension in the jaw joint and muscles, providing relief.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Stress can prompt humans to make silly mistakes. For instance, you can forget little things in your routine like brushing or flossing your teeth before leaving for work or going to bed. The problem is that these habits are essential if you want to enjoy good oral health. Bacteria and plaque, the white goo that sticks to your teeth, accumulate throughout the day and lead to cavities and gum disease.
The solutions may seem simple, but they truly are effective! Be sure to floss your teeth once per day and brush your teeth for two minutes both morning and night to remove bad bacteria and plaque. Then, every six months, go to your dentist, whose team can take away any hardened plaque and keep your teeth fresh, clean, healthy, and smooth.
Poor Diet
Unfortunately, many people tend to eat too much or have junky or sweet food when they feel stressed. Every once in a while, indulgence is perfectly fine, but if you regularly graze all day and/or choose starchy, sugary, or acidic foods and drinks, you only encourage harmful bacteria in your mouth to grow, spread, and damage your smile. On the other hand, nutritious food can fight oral infections and reinforce healthy teeth and gums.
In the end, occasional stress is just part of life, but chronically it poses a real threat to your oral health. In addition to practicing smart oral habits, consider therapy, relaxation techniques, and other methods of dealing with stress to avoid many other ill effects on your mental and physical health.
About the Author
Even with her extensive training and educational background, Dr. Kathy Lam continues to refine her skills in dentistry through ongoing training with some of the most prestigious organizations in the country like Spear Education. After dental school, Dr. Lam completed a residency at Waterbury Hospital Health Center in Connecticut, where eventually she served as Assistant Director for the dental clinic. If you have jaw pain or worn or decaying teeth, contact our team online or call our Wheaton office at 630-653-7720 to schedule an appointment.