Having problems controlling your stress levels? If you are, you should know that the issue can begin to affect your dental health. One reason for this is because stress can create problems for your energy levels, and may encourage changes in your diet that negatively affect your ability to prevent tooth decay. You can also experience physical problems that hurt your oral health, as many people respond to stress by experiencing dry mouth, or by developing a tendency to grind or clench their teeth. At our West Allis, WI dentist’s office, patients who are struggling to stay on top of their oral health care needs can receive ongoing care that helps prevent struggles that can affect their appearance and well-being.
Are You Having Trouble Handling Stress?
Even if you typically have an easy time managing stress, it can start to feel difficult under more taxing situations. It can also feel hard to sustain higher stress levels for an extended duration, even if you are working to manage negative feelings. When you feel that you are not able to escape stress, you can focus on identifying and responding to changes that your feelings trigger. By focusing on maintaining a healthy smile, you can prevent the onset of any problems that might demand restorative dental work!
Stress And Your Oral Care Routine
If you are experiencing problems with stress, you can start to struggle to maintain your typical routine. This may be because you are working odd hours and struggling to adjust, or because you are too distracted by different matters to calm yourself and fall asleep. Because sleep deprivation can interfere with your ability to focus on different tasks, you can find it harder to put your usual level of care into brushing and flossing your teeth. If you often suffer from dry mouth during periods of stress, it may become more difficult to prevent oral health problems, as saliva plays a role in natural dental care. Recognizing this, and adjusting your routine accordingly, can help you stay healthy.
Do You Grind Or Clench Your Jaw As A Stress Response?
When the pressure from teeth grinding starts to affect your smile, you may notice changes in the shapes of teeth that make you self-conscious. With cosmetic dental work, this issue can be addressed, but prolonging treatment for teeth grinding can lead to more serious harm that calls for restorative dentistry. In addition to causing harm to your enamel, teeth grinding can lead to troubles with chronic jaw pain that affects how you bite, speak, and chew.
Discuss Smile Care At Our West Allis, WI Dentist’s Office!
Your West Allis, WI dentist’s office can help you stay on top of your oral health needs, even at times when you feel burdened by stress. If you have questions, or if you wish to learn more about us, please call Stubbs Family Dentistry at 414-541-8250.
