Stress can impact the entire body, including the mouth. Examining your oral health will determine if you should do more to combat stress.
Teeth Grinding
A major sign of this condition is teeth grinding. As it tends to occur at night, you may be unaware that you grind your teeth. You may only know if you are experiencing this if someone who sleeps near you hears your grinding noises if you wake up with headaches or jaw pain, or if you notice that your teeth are wearing down.
Our Newmarket dentist can provide teeth grinding treatment, such as a custom night guard. It will prevent damage to your teeth while you work on reducing stress.
Bad Habits
Feeling stressed, you may engage in bad habits that lead to poor oral health. For instance, you may smoke more, increase your intake of alcohol, or eat more sugary foods. You may also neglect to brush your teeth for two minutes twice daily or see your dentist for regular checkups.
Mouth Sores
Stress can also impact the immune system, increasing your chances of infections that attack your mouth and stick around. Canker sores and cold sores are two signs of stress. Our dentist near you can diagnose both and prescribe medication to help you heal sooner and reduce discomfort.
Gum Disease
It is another indication of how stress can impact your immune system. If you already have gum disease or are at high risk for developing it, stress can worsen it.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can occur anytime, especially during stressful moments of the day. A lack of saliva in your mouth means you struggle to wash away food particles. Instead, they stay in your mouth and lead to bacteria growth.