Stress, Tension, Anxiety? How They Affect Your Teeth And Gums

Modern life can be challenging and the impact on our teeth far reaching.

It is fair to say that each time we turn on the TV for news or when we scroll through social media on our phones, we are rarely cheered by what we see or read. The world can, at times, seem to be in a never ending cycle of doom. In addition to this, many people have challenges in their own lives, whether work or family related. All told then, it is probably not surprising that many people feel stressed and anxious a lot of the time.

It is well known that stress can have a negative impact on our overall health, but it can also do some serious harm to our teeth and oral health in general. Recognising that we are suffering in this way is important and may help to aid recovery. The treatments that we have available at  the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre, your local Epsom dental practice can also help to restore some of the damage done.

Grinding teeth

One of the most damaging problems for teeth when you are stressed is that of teeth grinding, or ‘bruxism’. At its mildest, this can cause erosion of the tooth enamel, leading to less protection against tooth decay as well as increasing the risk of sensitive teeth. At its most severe, it can lead to broken teeth. It is also very difficult to control as this often happens while we sleep.

TMJ

TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, to give it its correct name, is an often painful problem associated with the jaw. It can cause clicking and sharp pain and can also lead to problems like headache and difficulty opening and closing of the mouth.

Gum disease

Anyone who has been afraid or felt under great stress will most likely have experienced a very dry sensation in the mouth. As we know from previous blogs, when the mouth is dry, then bacteria can form more rapidly and, over time, potentially lead to gingivitis and periodontitis with all its associated unpleasant symptoms, to say nothing of an increased risk of tooth loss if not treated in time.

Dietary changes

Even if we normally have a reasonably healthy diet, stress and worries can cause us to reach for less healthy food options. In many cases this is likely to include those high in sugar. Chocolate, for example, is sometimes thought to boost the mood, but coating your teeth with sugars for a period of time is certainly not good for the health of your teeth and gums.

Neglecting cleaning

Similar to the above, when we are stressed we may get out of our usual routine and sometimes this can lead to us neglecting our teeth, especially when it comes to cleaning them. As we all know, regular and diligent cleaning, including flossing, is essential for good oral health.

How can we improve our stress levels and restore the damage?

Some stressful situations rectify themselves naturally over a period of time, while others may need more significant intervention such as counselling etc. There are a few things which you could try though which might help to at least ease the degree of stress or anxiety that you might be feeling. These include:

• Meditation/relaxation exercises
• A walk in nature or somewhere quiet
• Breathing exercises
• Creative activities such as painting

What can be done about any damage that has already happened though? Some treatments may be more beneficial once your stress levels have been sufficiently reduced, but it is still important to protect your teeth, sometimes with temporary solutions, until such a time that a permanent restoration can be applied.

Where teeth have been ground together and the enamel worn away, this can be restored using porcelain tooth veneers. This will help to improve the way that they look and also protect them from heat sensitivity and tooth decay.

Broken teeth can be restored using fillings, or crowns if the damage is significant enough. In cases where the tooth has broken badly, it may be more appropriate to extract it and consider a substitute such as a dental implant.

Gum disease can often be reversed with improved home teeth cleaning and a scale and polish carried out by the hygienist at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre. The important thing is to not wait until serious symptoms appear and to make sure to get checked as soon as possible.

If you are suffering from stress or anxiety, it is important that you are seen regularly by one of our dentists so that we can monitor the health of your teeth and gums in order to help prevent significant deterioration. Once your stress and anxiety problems have been resolved or sufficiently eased, we can look at carrying out more permanent restorations for you.

If you have been under stress and have been neglecting your oral health care and would like to have a dentist give you a thorough oral health check, you can call our Epsom dental clinic today on 01372 720136. We look forward to helping you get your oral health firmly back on track.