Can Stress Really Harm Your Oral Health?
July 27, 2016
If you tend to deal with a lot of stress in your life, then you have likely received the same sage advice from multiple sources about how you need to lessen it before it affects your health. Aside from the obvious psychological toll it may take, some people will claim that it will damage your sleep patterns. Others may say that it could lead to heart trouble. It is probably a safe bet, however, that no has yet told you that experiencing stress in Westchester, CA, may severely harm your teeth.
While simply feeling stress may not have a direct impact on your oral health, the physical symptoms that it prompts may serve to exacerbate or even lead to problems in your jaw and mouth. Some of these stress-relates issues include:
- Temporomandibular disorder: Stress has been shown to influence muscle movement and contraction. One area where this influence is particularly prevalent is in the jaw. Problems associated with the overuse of your jaw muscles are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Aside from the added stress that TMD places on your jawbone and the surrounding muscles, it can also contribute to other oral health problems.
- Bruxism: One of the main problems that has been linked to stress-related TMD is bruxism, or the grinding of teeth. The real danger of bruxism is that it’s often difficult to diagnose until serious problems have already occurred. If you begin to experience extreme tooth sensitivity, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Sperbeck to see if bruxism may be the cause.
- Canker sores: Another potential consequence of unintended jaw muscle movement is the development of a canker sore. One of the ways these can develop is from the accidental biting or scraping of the inner lining of your cheeks.
Eliminating the sources of stress in your life may be easier said than done. But while you work to accomplish that goal, let Dr. Sperbeck and the rest of our team give you the tools that you need to stop it from doing any further damage to your oral health. You will be surprised at just how far having a healthy smile to share with the rest of the world can go toward improving your mood and confidence. To discuss your options for treating stress-related dental issues, just give us a call at 310-670-6944.