Reducing Stress is Good for Your Dental Health 

You’ve probably heard by now that prolonged, consistent stress is harmful to your body and mind. It can lead to increased blood pressure, heart attacks, anxiety, depression — the list goes on and on. But did you know that your dental health is also at risk under intense stress? 

April is Stress Awareness Month. Luckily, Willes Dental can help you. Schedule an appointment at Willes Dental by calling 760-576-2214 for our Encinitas, CA office or 760-477-0338 for our Escondido, CA location. 

Ways Stress Impacts Your Mouth

We all carry stress in different parts of our bodies. Regardless of where your stress is primarily located, it’s affecting your dental health all the same. Here are a few ways that your mouth is impacted:

• Poor Oral Hygiene – When your body is in fight-or-flight mode, your oral health routine can take a backseat. Brushing and flossing your teeth can seem like a big task when the rest of your body is stressed out. 
• Grinding Your Teeth – Bruxism, or the grinding of your teeth, is a very common way that stress manifests. If you wake up with a sore jaw, headaches, and pain in your teeth, it’s likely that you’re clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep.
• Diet – When you’re stressed, it’s easy to forget to eat or lose your appetite. But that’s not the only reason how your diet is affected. If you tend to crave sugary things when you’re stressed, you could be exposing your teeth and protective enamel to damage.
• Broken Teeth – If you’re excessively clenching or grinding your teeth, there’s an increased risk of them cracking or breaking. This could lead to more invasive dental work, like crowns. If your teeth are beyond repair, you could need to have them extracted.
• Headaches – Because your teeth are connected to your jaw, your whole skull could be feeling their pain! Headaches can be incredibly disruptive to your everyday life.

Your mouth is an important part of your overall health. Stress leaves you exposed to injury and pain, and your mouth can take the brunt of it. 

How To Help

Unfortunately, stress affects us all. But, there’s an upside: we know how to combat it. If you need restorative dental work, Willes Dental is the place for you in Encinitas and Escondido, CA. If you’re looking to reduce your stress levels and live a happier life, try to get to the root of your stress. Seek counseling, practice yoga, find a light exercise routine that works for you, or practice mindfulness. Focusing on the activities you love throughout your week can also be an excellent way to reduce stress and keep that smile on your face. 

You deserve to live a life free of stress, and eliminate its side effects in the process! Schedule an appointment at Willes Dental by calling 760-576-2214 for our Encinitas, CA office or 760-477-0338 for our Escondido, CA location. You also can contact us online.

Keyword: Dental Health