About a year ago I wrote about stress and how it can impact your dental health. This was when for various (mainly Covid-related) reasons many people were experiencing more stress than usual.
In general terms, stress is regarded as having negative effects on our wellbeing, including, you might not be surprised to hear, on our dental health.
It’s worth a quick reminder that a high and/or sustained level of stress can lead to:
- Tooth clenching or grinding: This is surprisingly common and can often lead to tooth wear, gum recession, sensitivity, fractured teeth, headaches, and jaw pain.
- Poor diet: When stressed, we often turn to the comfort of sweet treats and drinks which can lead to tooth decay and gum problems.
- Poor oral hygiene: Neglecting our usual dental routines can also result in gum problems and decay.
- Dry mouth: In certain cases, stress is managed with medication, which in turn can lead to a dry mouth, which means higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
On a purely anecdotal level I’m seeing fewer problems relating to clenching and grinding than this time last year which is good news. There’s no doubt in my mind though that there’s been a shift towards more types of stress-related problems in recent years.
As ever, if you’re experiencing any of the problems highlighted here then please do get in touch and we’ll be happy to help. Just drop us a line: info@coppiceviewdental.co.uk or call us on 01423 503428.
Mike
