It's no secret that stress has a major influence over our bodies in many ways, both direct and indirect, but did you know that it can have a big (and rather negative) impact on your dental health too? From cold sores to grinding your teeth at night, stress can be the cause, and Drs. Robert and Mandy Shearer have some insight on how to head it off at the pass.
"It is amazing how much stress shows up in our mouth," Dr. Mandy explained. "Clenching, grinding and other bad habits often show up early, and some people develop cold sores with stress."
During times of high stress, she recommends a night guard paired with daily stretches to help with muscle tension and sometimes even Botox to help with sore jaw muscles, in sever cases. If left unattended it can lead to problems with TMJ that's located in front of your ear where the skull and lower jaw meet, Dr. Mandy shared.
Another avenue where stress causes problems in the mouth comes in the form of people finding comfort in things are bad for their teeth.
"Junk food, sweets, cigarettes and alcohol all cause problems," Dr. Robert said. "They usually present in the form of gum disease and tooth decay. The more you indulge to feel better, the harder hit your mouth takes."
Dry mouth is another problem we can face from stress triggers. When the mouth doesn't produce enough saliva, it can experience chronic dryness. Not only does it result from conditions caused by stress, but it is also a common side effect of drugs used to treat depression, according to the team.
There's also the temptation to skip basic oral hygiene habits that are key to maintaining your teeth and gums. Dr. Mandy said people often just want to go to sleep and skip brushing and flossing and that just aids in bacteria growth creating avenues for cavities and other problems.
"When we are stressed we have higher levels of stress hormones that put our body in a flight or fight state, and immune functions decrease," she said. "When our immune system isn't functioning as it should, this can make periodontal disease more likely."
The best thing to do to help avoid these issues and others is simply to make keeping your oral health routine a priority and not vary from it, according to Dr. Robert. He said that seeing your dentist as scheduled and making sure to brush and floss at least twice a day should keep you in the clear. Also making good food choices and staying away from the excessive caffeine and sugar will help keep plaque build up to a minimum.
For those who find cold sores to be the result of stress, you should avoid eating spicy, hot foods or anything with a high acid content, like tomatoes or citrus fruits.
"Most canker sores disappear in a week to 10 days," Dr. Mandy said. "For relief, patients can try over-the-counter "numbing" medicine that you put directly on the sore. If you get canker sores often, we may prescribe a steroid ointment."
If you're concerned that stress is affecting or has affected your teeth, contact the team at Soddy Daisy Smiles for an appointment today to come with a treatment plan that meets your needs. They can be reached at 423-332-5725.
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"Clenching, grinding and other bad habits often show up early, and some people develop cold sores with stress." Dr. Mandy Shearer
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Soddy Daisy Smiles can be reached at 423-332-5725.