Shopping, planning family gatherings, taking everyone to seasonal activities – there are plenty of reasons why many people often find the holidays to be stressful. But what you may not realize is that stress can often have an impact on the overall well-being of your smile. To help you protect your grin, your dentist is here to explain some of the effects that holiday-related stress can have on your oral health.
Holiday Stress Can Cause You to Grind and Clench Your Teeth
When you’re stressed, you’re more likely to suffer from bruxism, which is a condition that causes you to grind and clench your teeth, often while you’re asleep. As you can probably imagine, repeated grinding and clenching aren’t great for your enamel; over time, you’re likely to end up with significantly worn-down teeth.
Furthermore, bruxism can easily lead to a TMJ disorder. The TMJs (temporomandibular joints) are the joints that allow you to move your jaw. If you frequently grind and clench your teeth, it can put excessive stress on the TMJs, which can ultimately lead to chronic jaw pain.
Holiday Stress Can Lead to Canker Sores
If you’ve ever had canker sores – also known as mouth ulcers – then you know just how uncomfortable they can be. Stress is considered a potential trigger for canker sores, although more research is needed to determine the exact reason why. While canker sores are not contagious and will eventually heal on their own, they can be irritating while you have them.
Holiday Stress Can Raise Your Risk for Dry Mouth
One of the side effects of stress is that it can decrease the body’s production of saliva, thus making you more likely to experience a dry mouth. One of the consequences of this condition is that there is less saliva to wash away harmful bacteria, which means your mouth will be more susceptible than normal to oral health issues such as gum disease.
What Can You Do About Stress and Your Oral Health?
If you don’t want your holiday stress to take a toll on your oral health, you should look for ways to keep it under control. You might benefit from certain activities such as practicing yoga or meditating. Taking care of yourself by eating right and getting plenty of sleep can also help.
Additionally, you should make sure that you’re giving your smile the attention it deserves. Make sure that you’re brushing and flossing at least two times a day. You might also benefit from adding mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine to help fight oral bacteria.
Remember, if you ever suffer from stress-related oral health problems, you can always call your dentist. They can help you find the best way to treat the issue so that you can protect your smile and get back to enjoying the holidays with your loved ones!
About the Author
Dr. Moaz Zanbarakji earned his first dental degree at the International University for Science and Technology in Damascus, and he went on to attend the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He offers many different kinds of treatments for his patients, including nightguards to protect their teeth from stress-related bruxism. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Moaz at Unique Dental of Putnam, visit his website or call (860) 928-4352.