How Does Stress Affect My Teeth?

You might wonder what stress could possibly have to do with your teeth, but your teeth go through a lot – and even more so in a stressful situation. In this post, we’ll go through how stress can affect your teeth, so you can understand the signs and hopefully prevent stress from causing a dental problem. Of course, if you’re concerned that stress has already had an impact on your teeth, we always recommend coming in for a check-up at our dental practice in Farringdon.

Neglect of Oral Hygiene

Let’s say you have a lot of paperwork to do. You’re up late at night and you have stress and worry going round and round in your head. The last thing you’re going to think about is brushing your teeth. And that’s it! Because you have priorities and work, your stress has allowed you to push aside what’s really important: your health. The more you neglect your oral health, the more prone you are to things such as tooth decay, gum disease and, in more extreme cases, tooth loss. You’re also neglecting your oral health if you’re stress-eating. Stress-eating can increase your cravings for sugar and can eventually become a repeated, nervous habit.

Gritting and Grinding Your Teeth

From being so frustrated that you grit your teeth to becoming so stressed that you grind your teeth in your sleep, this is a bad nervous habit that can cause more problems than just toothache. Gritting and grinding your teeth can cause jaw and neck pain, headaches, tooth wear and even cracked or broken teeth. For the best advice on how to deal with, and quit, gritting and grinding your teeth, speak to your dentist here in Farringdon and book in for a check-up.

Smoking and Drinking

Smoking is never good for your health or oral hygiene in the first place – however, when someone who is an avid smoker becomes stressed, it urges them to smoke more – but it just makes thing worse. Gum disease and tooth loss are linked to smoking, as it interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. As bacteria is collecting under the gums over time, layers of plaque and tartar start to develop. Sometimes gum disease could be occurring yet without the usual first tell-tale sign to suggest gum disease might be present. We recommend booking an appointment to see your hygienist if you’re concerned.

If you notice that stress is getting to your oral health, please do not hesitate to get in touch at your local dentist in Clerkenwell and we’ll be happy to give you guidance. At Zero Seven Dental, based near Farringdon, one of our main aims is to help get your oral health back on track and to keep it to a high standard.