General Dentistry By Dr. Javier Zaplana Navarro
October 15, 2024
How stress affects your dental health
October 15, 2024
Stress doesn't only affect your mood or your sleep. Sustained over time, it damages the mouth gradually and often silently.
How stress damages the mouth
These are the most common consequences:
- Teeth grinding (bruxism). Clenching and grinding your teeth, especially while you sleep, wears down the enamel and overloads the jaw.
- Mouth ulcers and sores. Periods of tension encourage ulcers to appear on the lining of the mouth.
- More vulnerable gums. Stress lowers your defences and makes it harder for the gum to recover from inflammation.
- Neglected hygiene. During anxious spells it’s common to let your care routine slip, just when it’s needed most.
What helps prevent it
Beyond tackling the cause, keeping up your hygiene routine, sleeping well and, if there’s teeth grinding, wearing a night splint protects the mouth while you work on the source of the stress. If you notice jaw pain or wear, do mention it at your check-up.
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Can stress-related teeth grinding be cured?
It can be controlled. A splint protects the teeth and relaxes the muscles; alongside this, it's worth reducing the stress that causes it.
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