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Your smile also suffers stress
“Stringere” is a word of Greek origin that means to squeeze. It is the state of both physical and emotional tension that triggers various disorders.
It is the evil of our century. We all suffered at some time in our lives. It occurs as a result of living a worrying situation of various causes that threatens and overflows emotionally. Stress is the self-defense response that our body has to free itself from such a level of tension: affecting different points of the body.
But are we really aware of the level of consequences it has on our body at the mental and body level?
Insomnia, mood swings, headaches, acceleration in the pulse, breathing or heart rhythm, anxiety disorders or panic attacks, tiredness, muscular, cervical or digestive pain, hair, skin or other organs of the human body are just a few of the dire consequences of stress on our body.
And of course, although many are not even aware, also about our oral health.
Recent studies show the close relationship between the two, which can help us understand how stress and anxiety affect our oral health.
How does stress affect dental health?
Stress can affect your oral health in various ways:
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders:
Some studies show that emotional stress factors are direct triggers of temporomandibular disorder. Stressful situations can make it worse due to excessive use of the jaw muscles, such as bruxism, chewing muscle pain and dental pain.
Bruxism
This is the involuntary habit of grinding your teeth, especially at night, as a way to release the accumulated stress during the day. This pathology can cause wear, cracks, fractures and, consequently, tooth sensitivity. It can be prevented with the usual use of an occlusal guard, which protects our teeth from the unconscious impulse to clench and grind them.
Xerostomia
The lack of production of saliva or chronic dryness is another consequence that can result from stress, or as a side effect of medications that are usually prescribed to treat depression. The oral cavity becomes dehydrated, irritating the soft tissues of the mouth and promoting the appearance of oral infections, caries and halitosis.
Gum disease
Cortisol, the main stress hormone, can cause tissue inflammation. Which, added to the affectation that the immune system suffers, can lead to periodontal disease. Bleeding and inflammation thereof, which can cause Gingivitis or Periodontitis, with dental mobility and loss of support material of the tooth.
Canker sores and herpes
Canker sores are ulcers in the oral cavity that frequently appear when trauma or injury occurs in the oral cavity accompanied by a decrease in defenses in our body derived from a stress situation.
In summary: Stress has undesirable consequences for our oral health that we can prevent or treat conveniently.
Ways to control the consequences of stress on our teeth
Periodic reviews
At least semiannually, so that we can control and prevent damage and major problems in time.
Hygiene
Three brushes a day, after each meal, flossing and not forgetting dental hygiene in consultation at least once a year.
Feeding
Healthy and rich in fruits and vegetables that moisturize, avoid dry mouth and provide vitamins and proteins, also preventing inflammation.
Habits
Avoid bad habits such as tobacco, alcohol and exciting foods and drinks such as cola, coffee, tea or chocolate.
Try to avoid situations of stress or tension.
Go to techniques to combat and control it such as sports, yoga or meditation.
At the slightest inconvenience, do not forget to go to your dentist as soon as possible. Depending on the symptomatology, your dentist in Valencia may prescribe treatments such as splint
Discharge in case of temporomandibular disorders in order to avoid dental wear and muscular and dental pain.
At Pons Soria Dental Clinic our specialists will make a personalized diagnosis recommending you the most appropriate treatment according to your problem and advising you to solve the consequences of stress on your oral health.
Request your appointment online or through the phone. 96 3303344 or 96 0500242 or on our website www.clinicadentalponssoria.com and consult with your dentist in Valencia.
We will be happy to assist you in our clinics on Alfredo Torán and Olmos, 7 (corner Avda. Francia, 27) and Gran Vía Marqués del Turia, 37 – under right. Valencia.
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