Stress affects your teeth! Learn simple habits that will improve your day and your smile

Stress affects your teeth! Learn simple habits that will improve your day and your smile

On 4 February 202025 June 2024In Preventive Dentistry

That prolonged stress has very negative effects on our health is not a discovery. However, did you know that stress affects teeth, destroys them and causes many diseases like bruxism and gum disease. How can you cope with it? Here are 5 habits to help reduce stress and keep your smile beautiful.

Stress affects teeth

Adrenaline, which accompanies stress, causes dry mouth. This in turn promotes tooth decay and inflammation, but is also responsible for unpleasant mouth odour.

In addition, the constantly accompanying muscle tension, especially in the neck region, can lead to bruxism. The involuntary grinding and clenching of teeth damages the enamel, causes abrasion of the tooth surfaces and even leads to tooth fractures. In such a situation, it can very easily lead to pulpitisand thus a severe toothache.

Constant and severe clenching of the teeth causes pain in the facial muscles and crackling in the temporomandibular joints. Headaches and migraines are also much more common.

But that's not all! Stress can also cause ulcers, aphthas and herpes in the mouth or cracking of the lips. It lowers immunity, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections such as gingivitis.

Although some diseases start in the mouth they quickly affect the whole body. If you want to find out more read our article "Decayed teeth a danger to the health of the whole body".

The painting depicts a woman in a white dental apron sitting at a desk with dental accessories such as a headlamp and a laptop. The woman has a facial expression suggesting worry or frustration, propping her chin with her hand.

Nervous habits that damage teeth

Many people start biting their nails or pen in stressful situations. Others bite their lip or cheek on the inside. This can lead to mechanical damage to the teeth, but also damage to the mucous membrane.

People who live under constant stress are also more likely to forget about proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. Thus, plaque builds up on their teeth, which leads to the formation of tartar and, consequently, to cavities.

Stress affects teeth, and this is best seen in people for whom a career or business development is paramount. Unfortunately, they increasingly have more damaged teeth than people who lead a relaxed lifestyle.

The painting depicts a young man with his eyes closed and a hand to his head, as if he is in pain or discomfort. The man is wearing a dark T-shirt and a seated hairstyle. Bookshelves and potted plants can be seen in the background, suggesting that he is in a domestic setting.

Expensive consequences

Stress affects the teeth thereby damaging them. This is why it is best to take care of your oral hygiene on a daily basis and to visit the dentist's surgery regularly, with each visit "firmly" written into your calendar.

If you are already struggling, even with a small cavity or have not been to the dentist for a long time, Call us and make an appointment. You will save yourself a lengthy treatment and considerable expense.

Which ones?

You may have to reckon with root canal treatment, tooth extraction or the fitting of a crown or bridge. But rest assured, we have good information. Treatment at our practice can be spread out over instalments, so you don't have to pay the whole amount at once.

Want to find out more, be sure to read our article "Teeth on credit: dental treatment on hire purchase" or Call to us. Importantly, our instalment scheme is 100% secure and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 619628).

The painting shows two people lying on a recliner in a dental clinic room. Their faces are obscured to maintain privacy. The persons' feet and legs are visible, as well as part of the side wall with a painting depicting a well-tended garden.

Stress affects our teeth, but can be minimised

Stress cannot be eliminated from life, but it can be minimised and learned to cope with it. Often, just looking for a way out of a stressful situation is stressful. So what can you do?

Learn 5 habits to help you manage stress and take care of your teeth

  • 1 Time for a break - or relaxation techniques. You don't always have the time or financial capacity to go away for a few days and relax. Therefore, instead of getting extra upset about your current situation, close your eyes for five minutes and imagine where you could be, remember the details, the colours, the smells, the sounds.
  • 2. breathe - a series of a few deep breaths won't take you long, but has a surprisingly calming effect.
  • 3. rest - in our busy world, few people remember this and realise how important it is. Are you really unable to find a few hours or even one for a walk or reading a book in 7 days? Don't forget to get enough sleep too.
  • 4. exercise - physical activity reduces stress, in addition to endorphins in our body.
  • 5. Smile - smile and laugh as often as possible, this will reduce stress in your body the fastest and improve your mood.

Stress affects our teeth and our whole body, and its effects can be disastrous. Therefore, try to limit it and, during the daily rush, do not forget to proper hygiene oral cavity, as well as regular visits to the dentist.

We also invite you to follow our channel on Facebook.