4 Ways Stress Is Affecting Your Teeth

It’s doing more damage than you think

It’s no secret that stress can have all sorts of physical impacts on your body, but are you aware of the consequences for your teeth and gums? Bazaar sat down with Park Avenue Clinic’s general dentist Dr. Victoria Sole to find out exactly what burnout could be doing to your smile and oral health and how to prevent it.

Your teeth will chip….
“If your teeth appear all the same length, or jagged on the edges, you may be grinding away your enamel,” explains Dr. Sole. “Any existing fillings may chip or break, and extreme wear can even cause nerve exposure and subsequent root canal treatment. Teeth can be restored by a qualified restorative dentist.”

It can cause neck, back and jaw problems…
“Grinding your teeth can also lead to headaches, neck pain and upper back pain, possibly even developing into migraines. If you consistently wake up with headaches or neck pain you may well be grinding your teeth in your sleep. This can be treated by wearing a splint at night time that does not allow your muscles to fully contract.

It affects your gum health…
“Low immune strength is associated with chronic stress, can result in sore, inflamed gums that bleed every time you brush. To prevent this, simply make sure you’re flossing every day, keeping your teeth clean and having bi-annual scaling, cleaning and polishing at your local dentist.”

You’ll have bad breath…
“Stress can result in dehydration, which leads of lack of saliva flow. Saliva acts as an acid buffer, so any excuses acid will damage your enamel and eventually lead to tooth decay and cavities, which means bad breath! You might also need fillings.”