Stress & Your Oral Health

Stress can cause high blood pressure, weakens our immune systems and can even contribute to heart disease. However, stress has also been shown to cause damage to your oral and dental health as well.

Stress-Related Dental Issues

Below are a few stress-related dental problems to keep an eye out for:

Bruxism

Bruxism is what happens when you clench or grind your teeth when you’re sleeping, and stress is the primary cause of bruxism. You may not even know you’re suffering from it until you recognize the symptoms. These symptoms can include:

• Waking up with headaches
• Toothaches or earaches with no apparent cause
• Gum recession
• Pain or a clicking sound when moving the jaw

Canker Sores

Canker sores, sometimes known as mouth ulcers, often appear inside the mouth and can be caused by stress. Canker sores are painful, but should go away on their own within a week or two. However, if your canker sore is particularly nasty, you can visit your regular dentist for a special ointment or mouth rinse.

Gum Disease

It’s been found that gum disease in adults can be caused by stress. In fact, the most intense the stress, the more severe the gum disease. The sooner we’re able to catch gum disease, the better the outcome will be. This is why it’s important to know the symptoms, which are:

• Red, swollen, or tender gum tissue
• Gums that bleed excessively when brushed
• Chronic bad breath
• Receding gums

If you believe that you’re suffering from stress-related gum disease, please don’t hesitate to contact Coastal Periodontics here in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Your oral and gum health is important to us.