Stress And The Effect on Your Oral Health
At Northridge Dental Group, we want our patients to understand the effect lifestyle has on oral health. Do you often find yourself overwhelmed with aspects of your life? Do you feel that you experience high levels of stress on a regular basis? If so, we want to share some ways that the stress caused by your lifestyle may be leading to serious issues with your oral health.
Oral Conditions Caused by Stress
You may be surprised to learn that when we perform routine examinations, we can often tell if you are experiencing high levels of stress in your daily life. Your mouth and teeth provide a number of warning signs. These are some ways stress can negatively affect your oral health:
Canker Sores
It is common for people to chew the inside of their mouths or their lips when experiencing stress or nerves. Doing this repeatedly can lead to problems with canker sores. Not only are they extremely uncomfortable, but it can be difficult to eat and drink properly.
Clenching and Grinding
This is the most common sign we see that indicates an issue with stress. This condition is also known as bruxism and can lead to serious issues such as worn and cracked teeth. Many patients are surprised to learn they suffer from this issue as it is commonly done during sleep.
Dry Mouth
When there is a lack of saliva present in the mouth, dry mouth can become a problem. It is not uncommon for your heart rate to increase during times of stress and for you to begin breathing through your mouth. It is similar to what you may do during exercise. Over time, dry mouth can lead to issues with decay and gum disease.
If you notice that you are experiencing any issues with your mouth, please contact our office located in Northridge, CA as soon as possible. Dental issues that remain untreated can progress into something serious over time and lead to extreme discomfort and costly repairs. We also recommend scheduling an appointment if you have not had a routine hygiene examination in some time. We hope to see you soon!