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Stress and anxiety contribute to chronic conditions. Usually, these conditions include high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. However, now it can also damage your dental health.

There are a number of dental problems which have been linked to high levels of anxiety and stress.

Clenching and grinding your teeth

Bruxism describes someone who unconsciously clenches and grinds their teeth. This usually happens when you are asleep. When you wake up, you will have a painful, stiff jaw and sensitive teeth. Earache will also be experienced. 

People with bruxism are faced with a range of dental problems. The problems include pain, problems with the temporomandibular joint and damaged teeth and gums.

You may grind or clench your teeth so much that your teeth can loosen and fall out over a period of time. Tooth replacement options are available. 

Gum disease is bad for dental problems.

Gum disease is also known as periodontal diseases and periodontitis. It is a leading cause of dental problems. This includes tooth loss. The bacteria on the inside edges of the teeth go below the gum. It causes irritation and infection. If untreated, bacteria can spread to the soft tissues and eventually pressure the jaw bone.

Research from Eagle Gate Dental and other sources shows a negative link between stressful emotions and the development of gum disease.  

Deprived of dental hygiene

Stress and anxiety can make organising your thoughts difficult. It affects your routine and interferes with things you do every few months, like going to the dentist. 

You may feel too drained to brush and floss your teeth. Instead, you rely on comfort foods, alcohol and smoking. Failure to brush your teeth for a day or two will be troublesome over longer periods of time. 

A lack of self-care will put the health and longevity of your smile at risk. 

Canker sores highlighted by stress

Canker sores are small, shallow lesions that develop on soft tissues in your mouth, also known as aphthous ulcers. They can also form on the base of your gums. 

The cause of canker sores is undetermined. However, it is linked to how you process stress and anxiety. Possible causes of canker sores could be minor mouth injuries, brushing too hard, sports accidents, accidental cheek bites, hormonal shifts and more.

Canker sores are more common in women. They surface during times of high stress. 

Triggering TMJ Disorder

Stress and anxiety are factors in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ). The stress triggers an overused jaw. This will cause you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth. Strenuous activities, such as athletics, can also cause stress. This will manifest the overuse of your jaw. 

Symptoms include pain, clicking and popping. Your doctor may suggest a soft food diet or anti-anxiety medication.

Dry saliva glands and anxiety

Dry mouth is also identified as xerostomia. It occurs when the saliva glands don’t produce enough saliva. Your mouth will feel parched and scratchy.

Stress, anxiety and depression have been shown to decrease saliva production. If you are anxious, do not breathe through your mouth. That will further dry out your oral tissues.

Burning mouth syndrome is similar to dry mouth but the mouth also feels as if it is on fire.

Biting your nails

Nail-biting is a stress-related habit. It can be harmful to your oral health and overall health. Biting your nails can move your teeth out of position. It can also damage your teeth. 

The germs from your fingernails can cause mouth infections. Warts on your hands can spread to your mouth too. The viruses and bacteria that get picked up by your hands can affect your body through your mouth. 

To conclude, make a plan to identify your stress and deal with it. Be honest with yourself and the way that you are handling stress. Once you can identify that you are under stress, you will be able to decrease the stress. 

A professional healthcare practitioner can advise you on how to treat the stress that you are under. You can also customise a mouth guard to protect your teeth during a stressful time. This will help you to sleep better. 

Some people even have anxiety about going to the dentist!

 How to cope with dental anxiety

The thought of sitting in the dental chair can be upsetting for both adults and children alike. The thought of getting needles stuck into your gums and drills moving through your teeth can cause anyone anxiety, explains Affinity Dental. However, normalising the experience of visiting the dentist can help remove the anxiety. 

That’s why we suggest several steps you can take to ease your nerves before seeing your dentist.

Choose a dentist you trust

On an insurance plan like Affinity Dental, you can choose from a network of vetted physicians. On your first visit, ask the dentist as many questions as you need to make yourself comfortable. You will most likely be with the same dentist for a few years, so keep an open relationship about procedures. 

Tell the dentist all of your concerns and allow him or her to debunk them with medical facts. We usually fear the unknown part of a procedure, so it could be helpful to have your dentist explain the things you don’t understand.

Do your own research.

If you are due for a procedure that you haven’t had before, do some research. If you’re scared to be sedated, research the effects of the particular medication you have selected, so that you are ready for the experience.

Pain

Anaesthetics, painkilling gasses and many numbing gels are available for most treatments. Dental procedures are not likely to be painful without any assistance. Speak to the dentist about all your pain management options. If necessary, ask for a prescription or over the counter painkillers for after the procedure, to use at home if you need to.