Mental health has become a big talking point in recent years, and it’s about time. When we’re stressed, anxious or depressed, it can have negative effects on our bodies.
Did you know? Stress can actually cause dental issues as well. Don’t worry though, because your dentist and other healthcare providers know how to help you. Let the experts at smilogy walk you through the ways it can affect you and what we can do to make things better.
Teeth Grinding
There’s a medical term for teeth grinding - it’s called bruxism. It’s very common, and it often affects people suffering from stress.
When you’re grinding your teeth a lot, they become worn out and weak. This can leave them vulnerable to breaking and decay, and even coming loose.
Diet
We’ve all done it - when we’re stressed, we grab the ice cream or perhaps a bottle of wine. It’s okay to treat ourselves occasionally, but when we’re living an unhealthy lifestyle it can affect our smile.
Not getting the right nutrition affects our overall wellness. It can be tough to maintain healthy teeth and gums, which could cause you some problems.
Dry Mouth
More bad news, we’re afraid - stress hormones can affect your saliva production, which in turn affects your teeth.
There’s usually a balancing act going on in your mouth every day. When there’s less saliva, food debris doesn’t wash away as easily and your PH balance can be off as well. This means you’re more likely to have plaque build up, which can worsen to cause gum disease and cavities.
Your Dental Habits
When you’re having a few issues, sometimes taking care of your teeth may slip your mind. This can present in a few ways - either you stop paying attention, or you pay too much.
Annoyingly, both can have consequences. For example, if you’re flossing excessively multiple times a day or brushing way too roughly, it can impact your gums and the protective enamel that coats your teeth.
Speak to us during your next visit to smilogy to learn ways to improve your dental habits at home.
Your Ability To Heal
Thanks, stress. Thanks for impacting our immune systems among everything else.
Because it gets weaker during the hard times, your ability to heal could also be affected. This means that things like annoying ulcers and gum infections can have an impact. It may also take you longer to recover from any kind of dental procedures.
Visiting A Dentist
If you’re stressed, you may feel like you already have too much on your plate. However, it’s best to keep up with your dental appointments.
At smilogy, our Australia dentists, hygienists and orthodontists understand stress and anxiety. If you’ve suffered any negative consequences, we’ll get right to work on helping you to fix them and putting you right at ease.
Of course, if stress goes on too long, it’s a good idea to seek help. You can contact your GP or take a look at these Australian mental health resources.
Book Now
It’s time to stop putting things off. Book in with our friendly smilogy team by calling us now on 02 8005 4434.