Emotional woes go far than just affecting your heart and cognitive function. As per the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), poor dental health and stress have a direct relation, helping us better understand what part of depression and anxiety contribute to various dental problems, and the importance of why we need to relax more to avoid those problems. Take a look at the following conditions that are most commonly an aftermath of stress and can be damaging to your dental health:
EXCESS EATING:
When stressed, most of us like to munch away our worries with food, which doesn’t often involve salads, and whole foods, but junk foods in the form of high sugar, grease and acid content. These ingredients encourage bacterial buildup that eventually group together to form plaque and erode the protective enamel, leaving holes in teeth that become prone to decay.
BRUXISM:
This is the condition of grinding teeth that usually happens when stressed. The grinding can lead to serious damage if not diagnosed quickly and effectively.
DRY MOUTH:
Under stress, the body loses the ability to produce enough saliva that can lead to dryness. This encourages more bacteria buildup since the absence of saliva doesn’t neutralize the acid content in the mouth and the leftover food particles are not washed away, that in turn become feeding ground for bacteria.
BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME:
Psychological problems are one of the known causes of burning mouth, which is indicated by a burning sensation on the lips, gums, tongue or palate.
GUM DISEASE:
Prolonged stress is known to affect the immune system, and increase the susceptibility to infections, such as periodontal disease.
When stressed, think about your oral health. Follow a proper dental hygiene routine, and instead of turning to stress relievers like junk food, drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, that are severely damaging to your teeth and overall health, turn to options like massages, hot bath and detox. Hydrate yourself, get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat well to avoid potential dental problems.
