The Surprising Connection Between Good Stress Management and a Healthy Mouth
January 31, 2016
To celebrate a new year and get motivated to live healthier, many people will decide to make stress management a part of their resolution. You have probably heard how becoming less stressed could lower your risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, among other threats to your well-being.
However, individuals frequently do not realize how learning to relax instead of feeling anxious can positively impact oral health as well. You can learn more details from our dentist in Fishers, IN, Dr. E. Dale Behner, but here are the basics.
A Stressful Lifestyle May Cause Gum Disease
Researchers have pored over years of studies and found a link between increased incidences of gum disease and high stress. Although they hesitate to say with certainty what causes it, some have suggested cortisol, a hormone that is produced during stressful situations, may be to blame. It is also possible that people are not as likely to practice good oral care habits when they are stressed.
Stressed People Are Prone to Teeth Grinding
If individuals are feeling high strung, they may grind their teeth or clench their jaws without knowing it. Because these side effects often occur at night during sleep, people may not even realize there is a problem until their annual checkups with a dentist in Fishers, IN. At that point, it might be recommended that the patients get fitted with night guards to help curb the problem.
Teeth grinding can lead to many related issues, including:
- Increased sensitivity due to worn enamel
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Tightness and pain in the temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, which are located in the lower jaw
By now it should be clear why your efforts to become less stressed in the year to come may bring lifelong benefits to your mouth. Make an appointment with Dr. Behner at Dental Care Today, PC to begin 2016 with a dental consultation. Just call (317) 348-3930.