Friday, September 12, 2014

Stress: The Dental Connection!

Stress symptoms--which can include high blood pressure, severe headaches, and insomnia--may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it.  You may think illness is the culprit when in fact stress may actually be the reason.  While not all stress is bad, most people overlook the toll that stress can cause on your mouth. How? Take a look:

  • Teeth Grinding
    • It's not uncommon for people dealing with stress to develop teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. People who grind their teeth at night may do so unconsciously, but the condition requires treatment to prevent the development of headaches, TMJ, and tooth damage.
  •  Mouth Sores
    • Research suggests that stress and depression harm your immune system, making it easier for infections to develop and stick around.  That can mean canker sores or a cold sore outbreak.
  • Bad Habits
    • Stress can lead to bad oral health habits such as smoking, drinking, and neglecting your daily brushing and flossing routine.  If you've been feeling under pressure lately, try to keep up your oral health routine--it will serve you well when your stress levels return to normal.

Although there's not always an easy way to reduce your stress levels, eating healthy, exercising regularly, spending time with your friends and family, and most importantly, prayer, are all good places to start.  If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,


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