If there was a barometer to forecast stress, it would be climbing up.It seems like the day-to-day stress of life is on the rise for humans all around the world. And that’s not a good thing, as increased long-term stress usually goes hand-in-hand with health issues too.

According to a recent poll by the American Psychological Association three quarters of adults have experienced health issues the prior month as a result of their increased stress.

Stress happens. It’s a fact of life. But when it lingers for extended periods of time, it becomes more than just carrying the burdens of life. It starts to harm your overall health too. While our bodies can handle stress in small doses, chronic stress  will eventually begin to damage various areas of your body, including your stomach, heart, back, nervous system and even your teeth.

While we can’t save you from the stress of the world, we can save your teeth when your stress increases.

4 Ways Stress Harms Your Oral Health

Here’s what could be causing your bad breath to linger longer than it should.

1. Teeth Clenching + Grinding – We’re seeing a lot of damaged teeth due to teeth grinding lately. When times get tense, people clench their teeth. But most of us don’t know we do it because much of the chronic teeth grinding takes place when we sleep. Chronic teeth grinding will lead to worn down tooth enamel, broken or cracked teeth, jaw disorders like TMJ, tension headaches and tooth sensitivity. It’s bad for your sleep, your health, and your wallet. Do you grind your teeth? Here are the Signs You Grind Your Teeth.
2. Reduced Saliva Flow – Chronic stress can disrupt your saliva flow. So, why is that bad? When your saliva flow works like it should, it keeps your mouth clean by washing away trapped food particles from your teeth. It also carries health benefits that remineralize tooth enamel, as well as fight off cavity causing bacteria. As your saliva dries up, it can lead  oral health issues like tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. Suffering from chronic dry mouth isn’t fun. It’s bad for your teeth & gums, it’s a nuisance – talking, eating – and it’s bad for your overall well-being. Fortunately, if you’re suffering from lingering dry mouth, we can help minimize the symptoms and protect your teeth. Learn more about Dry Mouth – its causes, symptoms + treatments.
3. Advanced Gum Disease – Living with increased stress weakens your immune system’s ability to fight off various infections and diseases, such as gum disease. But how can an oral disease harm your overall health? The bacteria that promotes gum disease can reach other organs in your body, such as the brain or the heart, by traveling through your blood flow. Heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimers, even Rheumatoid arthritis. These all have links to gum disease. Keeping your gums healthy might be the best thing you do to stay healthy during these stressful times.
4. Slacking On Oral Self Care – You probably get tired of hearing this from your friendly Bellevue dentist, but practicing good routine oral hygiene is one of the best ways to keep your teeth (and gums) healthy. Unfortunately, when stress levels rise it tends to interfere with self-care time. The time you devout to caring for yourself. So, your oral hygiene routine may take a back-seat as you place more attention on foods high in carbs, sugar, and caffeine. This combo can lead to increased cavities, advanced gum disease, tooth loss, and even bad breath. Correctly brushing & flossing every day and staying on top of your annual teeth cleanings and check-ups will work wonders for your teeth, and your overall health – not to mention your friends, co-workers and loved ones – no bad breath!

We’ll Protect Your Teeth + Lower Your Dental Stress

We can’t free you from the stress of life, but we can definitely reduce your dental anxiety when you visit with us – with a extra TLC. We will also help protect your teeth from you, when you do get stressed, so hopefully your dental health won’t be something you need to stress about.

If you’re noticing signs of teeth grinding, tooth sensitivity, or dry mouth, please call us no matter what you try, please call us at (425) 957-4700 or request an appointment online.