As the Dental Director of Delta Dental of Arizona, I’m always looking for ways to help people see how caring for their teeth affects their whole body. One connection that doesn’t get talked about enough is the link between stress and your mouth.
Whether it’s caused by work, family responsibilities or life changes, stress happens to most of us. But people may not know that it can damage their teeth and gums.
How Stress Shows Up in Your Mouth and How It Impacts the Body
When you’re stressed, your body reacts in ways that can harm your oral and overall health:
- Teeth grinding (bruxism) and or clenching: Many people grind or clench their teeth when they’re worried, stressed, or feeling pressure. This can happen when you’re awake or asleep. Over time, it can chip, crack or wear down teeth. It can also cause jaw pain, headaches, sore muscles in your neck and upper back and even migraines. You might be surprised to learn that tight jaw muscles can affect your eyes, causing blurry vision or eye strain.
- Dry mouth: Stress can reduce saliva in your mouth. Saliva is important because it cleans your mouth, protects your mouth from cavities, bleeding gums and bad breath. Not to mention, it helps with speaking, tasting and swallowing. It’s important to know that saliva also helps with digesting food and fighting infection. Without saliva, bad bacteria can grow, which can hurt your immune system, digestion, skin and brain health.
- Gum problems: Stress makes it harder for your body to fight infections, including in your gums. This can lead to inflammation, bleeding or even gum disease if not treated. Bleeding gums let bacteria into your body, which can cause heart problems, stroke or even worsen diabetic conditions.
Why Women Might Be More Affected
Research shows that women are more likely to report high levels of stress. They also go through hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause and other stages of life that can affect their gum health. While stress impacts everyone, these added factors can make women especially vulnerable to stress-related oral health issues.
How to Protect Your Smile During Stressful Times
The good news is that you can take steps to protect your mouth even when life gets busy! Here’s how:
- Stick to a strong oral hygiene routine: Brush twice a day, floss daily and use fluoride toothpaste.
- Chew sugar-free gum: Chewing gum is said to lower stress, reduce anxiety and deactivate the “fight or flight” response. If you choose sugar-free gum (especially with xylitol), you’re not only addressing stress, but also helping bolster your oral health!
- Find ways to manage stress: Activities like walking, writing, deep breathing or talking to a friend can make a difference.
- See your dentist regularly: Routine visits can catch early signs of stress-related problems before they become serious.
- Ask your dentist for support: If you’re grinding your teeth or having jaw pain, your dentist might suggest a mouth guard or other helpful tools.
Whole Body Health Starts with the Mouth
Stress is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to affect your oral health. At Delta Dental of Arizona, we believe that good oral care is essential to overall wellness. By managing stress and taking care of your teeth and gums, you’re making a healthy choice for your whole body.
