Feeling stressed in life is inevitable. Though stress can be controlled and eased through healthy practices like yoga, meditation, and other fun activities, it can also fester. It’s when it lingers for too long that it can become troublesome for your body and oral health. Luckily, our Mullins, SC, dentist offers a wide range of helpful treatments.
Here are a few ways stress can appear when it comes to your teeth and gums.
If you’ve ever been stressed over an upcoming deadline, family situation, or another thing entirely, you know the power it can have on your well-being. By this we’re referring to both the such as:
Most people, however, do not consider the when it comes to the jaws, teeth, and gums. Your oral health is just as important as your overall health so it’s key that you watch out for warning signs and aim to reduce your stress levels.
Depending on how exactly stress is impacting your oral health, Dr. Blevins can recommend helpful procedures, dental appliances, or at-home coping tips. Do not hesitate to contact our Mullins dental office if you have jaw issues, dental pain, or an oral infection believed to be caused by stress.
Whether you’re aware that you do it or it happens subconsciously, is a common oral condition brought on by stress. The jaw joint and chewing muscles can become sore and radiate pain as a result, often felt around the ear or face.
Though daytime clenching is annoying, you are conscious and thus have more control over curbing the habit. Clenching at night, on the other hand, is harder to stop unless you have a night guard in place. Dr. Blevins can custom create a night guard for you to wear while sleeping so your upper and lower teeth do not meet.
Also treated with a night guard, excessive teeth grinding, or bruxism, can wreak havoc on your teeth if not stopped. If extreme enough, grinding can cause loose, broken, or cracked teeth. Wearing a custom-fitted night guard when you go to bed will help prevent tooth damage and cushion aching joint muscles.
For severely damaged or missing teeth, Dr. Blevins will need to recommend restorative treatment options. Those can include dental crowns, dental implants, TMJ treatment, or tooth extractions. We want your smile to be at its healthiest so we will work with you to get you the care you need most.
You might not think about the saliva in your mouth much, but it plays a key role in your oral health. Saliva helps to remove leftover food from teeth, keep teeth moist, remineralize enamel, and fight off harmful bacteria.
When you’re stressed, the amount of saliva in your mouth can decrease resulting in a condition known as dry mouth. This reduced saliva production puts you at risk for more plaque buildup and the development of oral issues like tooth decay and gum disease.
In addition to reducing your stress levels outside of the dental office, Dr. Blevins can also recommend prescription or over-the-counter mouth rinses, artificial saliva or moisturizers, and fluoride trays.
Because stress can influence the performance of your immune system, it can be hard for your body to properly fight off infections. Of course, neglecting your oral hygiene can exacerbate the problem and make an infection in the gums even more likely.
If Dr. Blevins finds that you have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, it is reversible. A professional teeth cleaning and consistent oral care at home will improve your condition and return your gums back to normal. Unfortunately, once your infection progresses into later stage periodontitis, it can no longer be reversed and only managed.
Avoid this fate by practicing stress management at home and brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Remember to also floss in between teeth at least once daily to remove food particles left behind after meals.
Concerned about how stress is affecting your teeth and or gums? While our dentist in Mullins, SC, can’t magically eliminate all of your unwanted feelings, he can treat any infections or pain that has arised. Call Blevins Dentistry today at (843) 561-4039 to request an appointment and find relief.
We Can’t Wait to Help You Create Your Dream Smile!