Stress and Oral Health
Stress has a lot of negative effects on a person’s health. It can raise your blood pressure, cause your skin to break out, and even take its toll on your oral health. There are many ways that this can happen, including the following:
- Many cases of bruxism can be linked to, or at least aggravated by stress. This condition breaks down your tooth structure and leaves you vulnerable to serious decay.
- Gum disease can be aggravated by stress.
- Canker sores, cold sores, and similar afflictions may sometimes be caused by stress.
- People often manage stress by overeating, or indulging in sugary comfort foods. This encourages tooth decay and gum disease.
- Other people resort to nervous habits when they are experiencing stress. If these habits include chewing your nails, chewing ice, or chewing anything else that isn’t food, you are putting your teeth at unnecessary risk.
- Serious stress can lead to depression. When you are depressed, regular routines like brushing and flossing often suffer.
Contact our Bellingham Dentist
If you are plagued with stress, seek out ways to manage the stressors in your life. Meanwhile, keep your regular appointments with our Bellingham dentist, and you should be fine.