There are many ways to manage stress. Exercise, meditation, and even talking about your feelings can help keep stress levels in check. But we want to talk about oral health — specifically, how stress affects dental health. The link between mental and oral health is strong and starts from the very beginning of life. In fact, it begins before birth! When your mom was pregnant with you, her stress levels could have affected her baby’s development in utero; this has been shown by studies on both animals and humans alike. Most people think that teeth only start forming around age six months or so after birth, but new evidence suggests that there may be some “pre-teeth” as early as 17 weeks into pregnancy! All of this is just to say that our bodies are connected at a level deeper than we thought possible; every part of us affects another part somehow—even our teeth!
Stress Can Cause Grinding and Clenching
Stress can also contribute to grinding or clenching your teeth. Grinding and clenching are habits that can damage your teeth, especially if you do it frequently. If you’re stressed about something, are worried about the future, or have an intense emotional reaction to something that happens in the present moment, it’s not uncommon for people to clench their jaws and grind their teeth as a way of relieving tension. This habit can cause excessive wear on tooth surfaces, making them more susceptible to decay over time.
You might even bite your nails as a result of stress—and this is another habit that damages your pearly whites! When you bite down too hard on fingernails or cuticles while they’re growing at an accelerated rate (which is typical during times of high stress), small amounts of bacteria get into cracks between the nail bed and skin along with any dirt particles found underneath them; these particles may be left behind even after washing hands thoroughly because they’re so small—and these little guys love nothing more than finding a cozy home within one’s mouth (not good).
Additionally, chronic stress can cause people to grind their teeth at night while sleeping; this behavior brings up all sorts of questions: Are some people naturally prone toward bruxism? Is there any correlation between bruxism and anxiety disorders like panic attacks? What does it mean if someone has been diagnosed with both conditions simultaneously? One thing we know for sure: If this happens often enough over long periods of time (such as during childhood development), irreversible damage could occur mostly due to lack of adequate sleep/restorative benefits associated with nighttime rest cycles.”
Stress can cause people to develop nervous habits and tics.
Stress can be an enormous factor in dental health. Nervous habits and tics are one example of how stress affects oral health. Restless teeth syndrome, or bruxism, is a condition that causes people to clench or grind their teeth while sleeping, which can result in higher rates of tooth wear and damage. The resulting tooth sensitivity can lead to increased visits to your trusted family dentist as well as increased risk for gum disease.
Clenching your jaw during stressful situations is another common habit that can affect your oral health negatively by causing TMJ disorder (which is why many people recommend chewing gum when they’re feeling stressed). TMJ pain typically affects the jaw joint area, but it can also cause headaches if the muscle tension spreads into surrounding areas like the temples and forehead.
Stressful situations also tend to raise heart rate and blood pressure levels—this increases inflammation throughout our bodies including our mouths! This inflammation makes gingivitis worse by increasing bacterial growth on tooth surfaces leading them susceptible
to decay once they have been exposed through erosion or cavities.
Stress Increases Blood Pressure and Heart Rate, Which Can Make Gingivitis Worse
Stress can raise blood pressure, which may increase your risk of developing gingivitis. When your heart rate goes up, it increases the amount of oxygen-rich blood that leaves your heart and enters other parts of your body. This is called peripheral circulation. Higher blood pressure means more strain on the walls (arteries) that carry blood around your body. If these arteries get damaged, they’re less able to help smooth out irregular rhythms in heartbeat—a condition known as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Studies show an association between high levels of stress and AFib—and some research indicates that stress could be a direct cause of AFib in some people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
A recent study found that people who have regular oral health checkups are less likely to have gum disease than those who don’t go for regular dental exams—even when they have similar incomes or access to dental care services!
Periodontal Disease Is Linked to Heart Disease and Diabetes.
You may have heard that there is a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, but you might not know what it means. The connection between oral health and heart health is called the “glycemic-metabolic continuum.” It describes how poor oral health can lead to diabetes and other diseases that affect your overall well-being. Oral bacteria that cause gum disease can enter the bloodstream through inflammation in the gums and bring harmful LDL cholesterol levels down, which increases your chances of developing coronary artery disease. This mechanism also works in reverse: if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels because of other factors such as diet or lack of exercise, this can increase your risk for periodontal disease by causing poor blood circulation in the mouth.
In addition to affecting your cardiovascular system, diabetes has been linked with periodontal disease as well—because both conditions are associated with increased risk for infections such as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections (URIs).
People with Depression and Anxiety Tend to Have Higher Rates of Dental Problems
If you’re a person with depression and/or anxiety, you may be at a higher risk for developing dental problems. Depression and anxiety are associated with several factors that contribute to poor oral health:
- Nervous habits, such as nail biting, tongue thrusting or cheek biting can cause damage to your teeth and gums. The constant motion of your mouth can irritate tooth enamel and make it more susceptible to decay.
- Stress increases blood pressure and heart rate, which can make gingivitis worse by increasing plaque formation on the teeth’s surface.
The link between dental health and stress is strong, so it’s important to work to manage stress for your overall health.
Stressful events and everyday stressors can have a negative effect on oral health. Stress is often the root cause of many common, chronic dental problems such as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), periodontal disease, and TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder).
The link between mental health and oral health is strong—and it’s important to do whatever you can to manage your stress so that it doesn’t negatively impact your overall well-being.
Stress affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally by releasing hormones into our bodies that trigger “fight or flight” responses when we’re faced with threats or danger. This response raises blood pressure and heart rate, making it difficult for oxygenated blood to flow freely through vessels in our bodies including those surrounding teeth roots in periodontal pockets where bacteria can thrive unchecked.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, the relationship between stress and oral health is complex but powerful. While it can be hard to avoid stress entirely in our lives, there are many things you can do to manage it effectively. Managing your stress levels is good for your physical and mental health—and it just might make you more likely to keep up with those dental appointments!
Managing oral health is crucial for individuals with heart disease or diabetes, as untreated gum disease can make these conditions worse. Regular dental check-ups, proper brushing and flossing, and a healthy lifestyle can help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of complications. According to this dentist Virginia Beach VA, prioritizing oral care is an essential step in maintaining overall health and preventing serious medical issues.
