Oral health problems caused by stress

Stress can be found in anyone and at any time. Physical health problems due to stress have been known for a long time, but their impact on oral health has only been recognized in recent years.

How can stress affect oral health?

Stress is a biological reaction to physical, emotional, or mental disorders. Stress can affect the body's resistance to disease. The type of stress that can impact oral health is stress in the long run that it has failed to control.

Stress causes changes in the body to regulate several components of the mouth, such as saliva production, which acts as a defense system for the oral cavity. Stress also increases the risk of developing lesions and infections of the mouth walls and gums. This is also found in a study which shows that stress can initiate the development of disease, as well as trigger a decrease in awareness to maintain oral health.

Oral health problems that can be triggered by stress

Here are some health problems that can arise when someone is experiencing chronic stress:

1. Apthous stomatitis

Also known by the term afternoon canker or canker sores, is a health problem that often arises when someone is experiencing stress but it is not certain what causes it.

A study shows that stress due to mental and physical stress can increase the risk of recurring mouth ulcers. Mental stress has a greater risk of triggering canker sores. If you experience this problem, avoid acidic and spicy foods and use ointments for thrush.

2. Bruxism or grinding teeth

It is a disorder characterized by the involuntary grinding and grinding of the upper and lower teeth of the teeth. It can appear as a sleep disorder that is more likely to occur when you are under stress, or as a habit that occurs when you are feeling anxious.

Bruxism triggers abnormal excessive tooth movement and damages tooth enamel. If it occurs during sleep, this disorder can also cause headaches when you wake up from sleep.

Not only tooth decay, this friction movement can cause discomfort due to damage to the joint that connects the lower jaw to the bone near the ear or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). To avoid further damage, this habit should be stopped and / or wear protective gear, especially when sleeping at night.

3. Dry mouth

Dry mouth can occur when you are under chronic stress due to mental stress. This condition can also occur due to immune system disorders caused by chronic diseases such as diabetes, as well as side effects of depression drugs.

Chronic stress can interfere with the work of the central nervous system and interfere with the work of various glands, one of which is saliva. Saliva or salivary fluid is an important defense system for the oral cavity, so dry mouth conditions can lead to complications such as tooth and gum decay, oral lesions, and oral infections due to a decreased immune system. Stress control and minimizing dryness of the mouth is necessary to overcome this problem.

Stress makes people pay less attention to oral health

Experiencing stress can change a person's behavior, especially to carry out oral care by rinsing or brushing their teeth, and skipping a dental check-up schedule. Other conditions that are triggered by stress, such as dry mouth, can accelerate tooth and gum decay. Especially if there is a change in diet with little intake of vitamins and minerals but high in sugar, tooth decay can occur very quickly.

That is why maintaining a healthy lifestyle still needs to be done. Avoid consuming excess sugary foods as a way to deal with stress, and choose healthier activities such as exercise to reduce stress.