What types of dental conditions can be attributed to everyday stress? Cold sores, canker sores, halitosis, cracked or broken teeth and TMJ disorder are some of the primary problems that you might suffer due to stress or anxiety. Regular visits to your family dentist can help alleviate many dental problems, especially when going through a particularly stressful situation.
Cold sores or canker sores can be attributed to many things with stress near the top of the list. Stressful situations can change how our body fights bacteria, modify hormone levels or affect our diet which can challenge our bodies nutritionally. These physical changes along with trauma to the mouth, poor brushing habits, and even sun exposure can result in cold or canker sores.
Halitosis, or bad breath, is due to bacteria build up in the mouth. In times of stress, changes in diet, beverage consumption, smoking and not taking care of our overall health can result in excessive bacteria build-up. Regular visits to your dentist for professional dental cleanings and excellent oral habits like brushing and flossing daily can help rid the mouth of the bacteria that contributes to bad breath. And since the tongue harbors much of the bacteria that promote halitosis, a tongue scraper can aid in helping to control this condition.
During times of stress, bruxism or teeth grinding often occurs during sleep or at times when we are not conscious of jaw clenching or grinding. The result can be cracked or broken teeth from the grinding pressure or even TMJ, which is a term used to describe a joint disorder or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint which impacts the jaw in many ways.
Our mouths can tell a lot about us, but regular visits to Tate Family Dentistry will aid in doing everything possible to keep our mouth and teeth healthy and free from these and other stress induced conditions. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment!