A little bit of stress in your life is a good thing, but too much stress can lead to a variety of health problems. This includes issues with your oral health. Read on to find out how your stress level might be affecting your mouth.
Stress May Lead to Dry Mouth
When you are stressed, you may produce less saliva in your mouth, causing the oral tissues to dry out. While you may wonder why, exactly, that is such a problem, it is important to understand just how crucial the saliva is for a healthy mouth. The saliva keeps the oral tissues lubricated and works to wash away food particles, bacteria, and acids before they have a chance to damage the teeth and gums.
Dry mouth tends to present itself the same way in anyone who experiences it. Some of the most common symptoms include the following:
-A dry or sticky feeling in the mouth
-Chronic halitosis or bad breath
-Thick or stringy saliva
-Difficulty chewing, speaking, or swallowing
-Feelings of constant thirst
-Problems with dentures and other oral appliances fitting properly
-A hoarse or dry throat
To prevent oral health issues, it is important that you manage your stress level and get your dry mouth under control.
Medications for Stress May Cause Oral Health Issues
Medications for stress go along with the issue of dry mouth. Certain anti-anxiety and depression medications may make you feel better, but a potential side effect is dry mouth. While you certainly shouldn’t stop taking these medications if you need them, be sure to talk to us about how to protect your mouth from dry mouth.
Stress May Prevent You from Keeping Up with Your Oral Hygiene Regimen
When you are stressed, do you find it difficult to keep up with your normal activities? If so, this may include your typical oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing. While it makes sense that your mind is focused elsewhere, you should never let your stress level get so out of hand that you forget to brush your teeth. Even missing a few brushing sessions can have a major impact on your oral health.
Forgotten or Missed Dental Appointments Lead to Poor Oral Health
Stress can leave you feeling forgetful, and activities that may have once been important suddenly fall off your radar. Your dental appointment may be one of those things. Perhaps you miss your appointment completely or simply don’t think it is important when you have so much going on in your life. However, preventive dentistry is essential in maintaining a healthy mouth and preventing bigger oral health problems in the future, so make sure you attend your appointments.
Stress Can Trigger Other Oral Conditions
Dry mouth isn’t the only oral health condition that can be triggered by stress. Jaw issues are also prevalent when people suffer from stress, and this can lead to pain around the face or ear. If you deal with stress by clenching or grinding your teeth, you could suffer from worn teeth, cracks, or damage that requires a root canal or other invasive treatment to correct. Other stress-related oral health issues include cold sores, canker sores, oral infections, and a decreased immune response, which may lead to symptoms of gum disease.
Good oral health is essential for overall wellness, and our office wants to help you maintain a healthy mouth. That’s why we offer convenient appointment times, affordable services, and a friendly staff – to make it easier than ever to maintain good oral health. Call us today at 479-646-0706 to set up your next appointment, or take advantage of our convenient web form to request one.
