Stress And The Effect On Your Mouth
Do you often find yourself experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety? Whether your stress is caused by a job or your personal life, it can be harmful to your overall health. Stress can contribute to health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Aside from your overall health, your stress levels and lifestyle can also be negatively affecting your oral health.
Stress and Your Teeth and Mouth
Stress does not affect everyone the same way. Some people can tolerate high stress levels, and others not as much. Even for people who feel they aren’t affected by stress, their mouths and teeth might tell a different story. We want to share some ways your stress and anxiety levels may be affecting your oral health.
Clenching and Grinding
One of the most common effects that can be seen during high stress levels is clenching and grinding your teeth. Many patients are unaware until their routine exam or they experience teeth cracking or breaking from the intense pressure on them. Regular clenching and grinding can also lead to issues with worn enamel and tooth sensitivity.
Mouth Sores
Biting the inside of the mouth and lips is another symptom of high stress and anxiety. Regular biting of the inside of the mouth can lead to the development of sores, such as canker sores, which can be painful and make it difficult to eat and speak properly. They can also make it challenging to clean your teeth.
Dry Mouth
When your heart rate rises, your breathing rate also increases. This can lead to issues with dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva. Over time, this can lead to issues with decay.
If you notice that you are experiencing any issues with your mouth, please contact our office located in Kaufman, TX as soon as possible. Dental issues that remain untreated can progress into something more serious over time and can lead to extreme discomfort and costly repairs. We also recommend scheduling an appointment if you have not had a routine hygiene examination in some time. We hope to see you soon!
