The Impact of Stress on Your Oral Health & How to Protect Your Smile
When you’re stressed, you probably notice the most obvious signs: tight shoulders, headaches, or trouble sleeping. But have you ever considered that stress can affect your smile?
Believe it or not, chronic stress can take a serious toll on your oral health, especially your gums. At Coastal Periodontics, we often see how unmanaged stress can lead to gum disease, delayed healing, and other complications.
But don’t stress over it! There are simple steps you can take to protect your smile, even during life’s toughest moments. Let’s take a look at how stress impacts your oral health, and what you can do about it.
The Stress-Health Connection
Stress is the body’s physical and emotional response to any demand or challenge that disrupts its balance. So not all stress is bad. It’s what helps you prepare for a big event, meet a deadline, or rise to a challenge.
But when stress becomes a regular, lingering condition that persists day after day without relief, it takes a toll on both your body and mind. Over time, chronic stress can suppress your immune system, increase inflammation, and hinder the body’s ability to fight off infections or heal properly.
That includes your oral health, too. Prolonged stress can silently impact your gums, teeth, and jaw without you even realizing it, and sneak into your daily habits more than you think.
How Stress Affects Oral Health
Stress influences oral health through biological effects on the body as well as changes in behaviors:
- Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching (Bruxism): Stress often causes unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth, especially during sleep. This can wear down tooth enamel, cause jaw pain, headaches, and damage the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
- Gum Disease and Recession: Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, a hormone that suppresses the immune system. This lowers your body’s ability to fight dental bacteria, leading to inflammation, bleeding gums, and progression of gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis).
- Mouth Sores and Infections: Stress triggers canker sores, cold sores, and makes you more susceptible to oral infections.
- Neglected Oral Hygiene: When overwhelmed, people may skip brushing or flossing, leading to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum problems.
- Dry Mouth: Stress and certain medications can reduce saliva production, which normally protects teeth and gums by washing away bacteria. Dry mouth increases the risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
The Bigger Picture: Stress, Immunity & Healing
For patients undergoing periodontal treatments, like deep cleanings, LANAP laser therapy, or gum grafting, stress can impact healing. When your immune system is under pressure, your body may take longer to heal from surgery or respond to treatment.
That’s why we take a holistic approach at Coastal Periodontics. Our minimally invasive procedures are designed to reduce trauma and support faster recovery. Because it’s not only the procedure that impacts healing, but how you feel going into it.
Protecting Your Smile During Stressful Times
You can’t eliminate stress, but you can give your smile the tools it needs to stay healthy. Here’s how:
- Stick to your daily oral hygiene routines, even when you’re stressed.
- Watch for signs of teeth grinding, like jaw soreness or worn teeth. Consult your dentist about a night guard.
- Maintain a balanced, low-sugar diet and avoid tobacco and excess alcohol.
- Stay hydrated and consider sugar-free gum to combat dry mouth.
- Add stress-relieving activities to your routine, such as walking, yoga, deep breathing, or journaling. Even a few minutes a day can help.
- Keep regular dental checkups to catch issues early.
- Share your stress levels and any symptoms with your dental care providers.
You Deserve a Stress-Free Smile
Life can be stressful, but caring for your gums doesn’t have to be. At Coastal Periodontics, we’re dedicated to providing compassionate, minimally invasive care that helps you feel at ease.
Contact us today to schedule your visit and learn how we can support your oral health, no matter what life throws your way.
Make an Appointment Now
Consulting with a dental professional, like Dr. Tredinick at Coastal Periodontics, can provide you with expert guidance and help you make the right decision to restore your smile and oral health.
New Patient Special: Support the Charity of Your Choice
Get a complete exam, X-rays and 3D CT scan all for $295. We’ll create a personalized care plan for the treatment that is best for you, whether the revolutionary Pinhole Technique for gum recession, laser assisted treatment for gum disease, and a variety of implant procedures to replace missing teeth or support dentures. Plus, you’re supporting your community – we’ll donate a portion of your fee goes to the charity of your choice.