Stress And The Effect On Your Oral Health

Is your life highly stressful? We face many challenges on any given day, whether it is financial difficulty, family issues, an overload of work, or even traffic. Any of these issues can lead to an increased level of stress. You may be surprised to learn that your mouth can show signs that you are under stress. When you visit our office for an oral hygiene examination, there are warning signs that indicate your stress levels. The signs we are looking for include:

Teeth Grinding and Clenching
When you are feeling stressed, it is not uncommon for your body to become tense. One side effect of this is known as the clenching and grinding of your teeth. This is when the upper and lower arch of teeth are pressed together with extreme pressure. Many people are unaware they clench and grind their teeth because it is done during sleep. This can lead to serious problems such as worn enamel as well as cracked and chipped teeth.

Dry Mouth
High stress can increase your heart rate and your breathing rate, similar to when you are exercising. This often leads to mouth breathing, which can cause your mouth to dry out because there is insufficient saliva. This can lead to an increase in the harmful bacteria that cause decay and gum disease.

Canker Sores
Just as some people clench and grind their teeth when stressed, other people chew on the inside of their cheeks. When you continuously chew on your mouth, you have a greater risk of developing canker sores. These sores can take some time to heal and make it difficult to properly chew your food.

If you notice that you are experiencing any issues with your mouth, please contact our office, which is located in Charlotte, NC, as soon as possible. Dental issues that remain untreated can progress into something serious over time and 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!