While we often think about stress in terms of the emotional toll it can take, remember that you may also undergo unwelcome physical effects during a difficult period. If it is not being managed effectively, your stress can actually pose a problem for your smile. You can have a more difficult time keeping up with the right habits, and you may experience physical issues that make preventing problems harder. The dental care provided during your checkups with our St. Louis, MO dentist’s office is important, but remember that what you do between visits also matters. By making an effort to protect your teeth each day – even during stressful periods – you can better guard your smile against problems like tooth decay and gum disease!
The Physical Effects Of Stress On Your Smile
There are potentially serious physical effects to prolonged stress that you should be aware of if you want to maintain a healthy smile. While there are several issues that can cause bruxism, or habitual teeth grinding, be aware that stress may be responsible for your nightly grinding or clenching. Stress can also lead to dry mouth, which interferes with your body’s ability to produce saliva. Saliva is an important natural line of defense against oral bacteria, and the substance helps us keep our teeth clean by washing away food debris.
Make Sure You Maintain Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Stressful periods are often disruptive, leading to undesirable changes in a person’s typical routine. Even a brief change in your oral hygiene routine can allow tartar to form, and that can raise your risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Tartar deposits are not something you can remove with your floss or toothbrush, so an accumulation increases your risk for a cavity that requires a dental filling at your next appointment! People who change their eating habits in stressful periods can also have difficulty, as they may not realize that they have introduced more sugary, unhealthy foods into their typical day than normal.
Tips To Help You Keep Your Smile Healthy
Remember to stay consistent with your oral hygiene routine every day, even on days when you are particularly busy, or when you might feel too tired to thoroughly brush before you go to bed. You should also try to drink water throughout the day, as this can help with dehydration and dry mouth. If you think stress is causing you to grind your teeth at night, carve out time and take steps to make yourself relax before you sleep. You may also need to cut back on alcohol and caffeine to curb this problem.
Our St. Louis, MO Dentist’s Office Helps Families Protect Their Smiles
Magnolia Family Dental in St. Louis, MO takes pride in helping our community members maintain healthy smiles. If you have questions about us, or if you would like to learn more about our services, call our St. Louis, MO dentist’s office at 314-822-4521.
