Can Stress Affect Oral Health?

Stress is a normal part of life, but when it persists for long periods of time, it can have a negative impact on your health. It can lead to problems like headaches, high blood pressure, heart disease, and insomnia. It can also affect your oral health.

We experience stress in our daily lives every day. It can range from small levels of stress to major, life-altering events that can cause severe problems. Stress has become a way of life for most people, and it can be hard to pinpoint what is causing us all grief. Many things can cause stress, including work responsibilities, financial concerns, family issues, or a variety of other factors. The stress that we experience daily can affect our oral health and overall health in a variety of ways, such as:

Stress can weaken your immune system, which affects your ability to fight bacteria in the mouth.
Stress can also cause you to grind your teeth more at night, which can cause tooth damage over time.
If you suffer from chronic stress, you are more likely to develop gum disease. Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults, so any increased risk of developing gum disease should be taken seriously.
Chronic stress can also trigger TMJ disorder. This painful jaw condition can lead to headaches or even lock your jaw in place.
Untreated, chronic stress and anxiety can also lead to problems with memory and learning in your later years.
There have been links between stress and certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, due to the physiological changes that take place in the body during stress.
There are also mental health concerns that can arise with long-term, untreated stress. These include depression, anxiety, and even psychosis in some cases.

As you can see, there are many things that can go wrong if you don’t manage stress properly. There are many tips and tricks that you can use in order to minimize the effects of stress on your oral health. Reducing stress levels can be as easy as getting enough sleep each night, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and getting a regular amount of exercise each week.

Use your vacation time wisely! Make sure you are taking time to relax and not worrying about work and responsibilities.

At Mountain Stream Dental, Dr. Gerald L. Torgeson and the team give the best quality dental care to all patients. Call us at (541) 345-5363 to schedule a consultation.