While the holidays are a joyous time of year full of family gatherings, gift-giving, and celebration, the logistics behind putting it all together can cause a lot of stress for many people. Some people are anxious about getting everyone the right gifts, others are concerned about getting the feast together on time, and many more are stressed about finishing up the year at work. While it’s common knowledge that this sort of stress can affect your overall health, many people are unaware that it can take its toll on your dental health as well. Here’s how stress can hurt your teeth and what you can do to keep them healthy.
Teeth Grinding Can Wear You Down
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a common dental health issue. Many people do it as a stress response, either consciously during the day or involuntarily while sleeping. Unfortunately, the stress this puts on the teeth can cause chips, cracks, jaw pain, and even headaches. If you’re doing it while you’re awake, being mindful of the habit can help you break it. If you’re doing it while asleep, you can get a mouthguard from your dentist that you can wear at night. This will absorb most of the force and protect your teeth from harm. In either case, you may wish to seek help for your anxiety.
Dry Mouth Can Leave You Unprotected
Though saliva isn’t usually thought of as a wonderful thing, it actually plays a huge part in preserving your oral health. Saliva serves to keep the teeth lubricated, which protects them from injury, and mineralized, which keeps them strong. It also flushes bacteria and food debris out of the mouth. Sadly, depression and stress are both linked to dry mouth, and holiday anxiety can leave your mouth parched. You can address this by drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow, and rinsing with mouthwash designed to treat dry mouth.
Canker Sores Are Very Annoying
Canker sores are common stress reactions for many people. These are small sores that develop on the cheeks or gums within the oral cavity. While they can be painful and are certainly quite aggravating, they are not contagious and will usually resolve themselves after about a week. There are many products designed to treat them for sale at pharmacies and grocery stores.
Don’t let seasonal stress ruin your holiday joy. By being aware of your stress responses and taking measures to mitigate them, you can keep your smile ready for when you finally have some downtime to enjoy with your loved ones.
About the Author
Dr. Moji Chandy earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the New York University College of Dentistry and has been practicing dentistry since 2006. She proudly serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Her office in Carrolton, TX offers preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on keeping your smile safe during the holidays, contact the office online or dial (972) 492-6700.