Lower Stress To Improve Oral Health Issues
Do you wake up in the morning feeling tension in your jaw and face? Or do you regularly experience dental discomfort but do not have dental decay? If so, you may be grinding your teeth. The correct term for teeth grinding and clenching is bruxism. Patients who experience bruxism have a greater chance of experiencing severe dental issues, such as cracks or breaks, due to the repeated pressure on the teeth. One major cause of bruxism is stress.
How Can Stress Lead to Tooth Damage?
When you feel stress in your life, it is not uncommon for the body to become tense. Tension in your muscles can also impact the face, as there are numerous facial muscles. One problem that some patients with high levels of stress experience is teeth grinding, mentioned above. Many patients who grind their teeth are unaware that it often happens during sleep. Teeth grinding can cause serious and significant damage to your oral health. For example, teeth that are worn, cracked, or broken will eventually fall out or need to be extracted. Not only can this be painful, but it can be very expensive as well.
Ways to Help Alleviate Stress
If you find that you are constantly under tremendous stress, it is important to evaluate what is causing the issue. If it is caused by something such as your job, you may not be able to leave, but you can still do things to lower your stress. Daily exercise and meditation can help with stress levels as well. Not that many people want to hear this, but limiting caffeine and alcohol can help as well.
If you experience a dental emergency, such as a cracked or broken tooth, it is important to contact our office as soon as possible. Damage to your teeth needs to be treated right away. If you are concerned you may be grinding your teeth or need a treatment or routine examination and are located in Wellington, FL or the surrounding area, be sure to contact our office for an appointment.
