Are you able to cope with stress effectively? We all have stress in our lives on occasion. For some, stress can be debilitating. Not only is stress being blamed for diseases such as heart disease, there is also evidence showing it’s link to gum disease. Stress can affect our sleep habits and damage teeth. During routine dental examinations and cleaning, dental professionals can identify orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders, mouth sores, and gum disease.
OROFACIAL PAIN: muscle pain in and around the mouth is common with stress patients. During the day and even while sleeping people under stress may clench their teeth or grind them back and forth against one another. This action, called bruxism can not only wear down and damage teeth but cause joint problems.
BRUXISM: stress can increase the amount of clenching and grinding a patient exhibit. Clenching is often associates with headaches and muscle pain. Grinding can damage teeth, cause TMJ issues, and lead to sever jaw and neck pain.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER: stiffness of the jaw, long lasting jaw pain, lock jaw and headaches are seen frequently with high stress individuals
MOUTH SORES: cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are contagious. These fluid- filled vesicles are most often found on or around the lips. Canker sores are small ulcers that appear inside the mouth that are often found appear during times of stress.
GUM DISEASE: stress weakens the body’s immune system. This makes it harder for the body to fight off infection, including periodontal disease. This along with the constant clenching and grinding are a recipe for disaster!
What is our recommendation? Get rid of stress, of course! But if that’s not possible, give us a call at Lima Dental Associates. We will help you protect your teeth, gums, and TMJ while you are getting through the rough times!
Until next time,
Keep smiling, sharing, and caring!