Focusing on your daily responsibilities becomes harder when you feel weighed down by stressful feelings. Even the basic elements of your routine can be harder to tend to when stress is higher or more difficult to manage. Controlling your stress levels is important, but it can be difficult to be completely free of this feeling in your life. Because of this, it is important to know what stress can do to your physical health, including your dental health. People who are stressed can have a harder time sticking to healthy meal and snack choices, they may have a harder time keeping up with their oral hygiene routine, and they are more likely to grind their teeth. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can provide continued support to help prevent oral health problems and keep your smile safe, even in times when your stress feels difficult to control.
Daily Stress Issues Can Affect Your Smile
People respond to higher than usual stress levels in different ways. If your stress response includes changes in your diet, you may not realize how your reaction is affecting your cavity risk. Because stress can also interfere with your energy levels and ability to sleep, you may have a more difficult time focusing on your regular oral hygiene routine. Because periods of high stress can sometimes be hard to avoid, you may go through short periods where your preventive habits are not as effective as they should be. Fortunately, your regular dental exams can help you protect your smile, and they can also lead to the early detection and treatment of problems before they worsen.
Are You Having A Hard Time Sticking To A Good Oral Hygiene Routine?
A busier than usual schedule, or an increase in stress that makes sleep difficult, can stand in the way of you and a truly effective oral hygiene routine. Even if the break in your routine is relatively short, it will increase your risk for developing tartar deposits on your teeth. When this happens, harmful microbes contained in those deposits make you more vulnerable to problems with tooth decay and gum disease.
Stress And Teeth Grinding
One physical response people can have to high stress is the onset of nightly teeth grinding. A teeth grinding habit, known as bruxism, can lead to serious wear and tear if it is not addressed. This can hurt the quality of your smile and call for cosmetic dental work, and may even call for restorative dental work. Fortunately, you can make sure your teeth stay protected by receiving a custom oral guard from your dentist to protect your smile while you rest.
Your Ankeny, IA Dentist’s Office Can Provide Ongoing Support For Your Oral Health
Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office helps patients stay on top of their oral health needs, which makes them less vulnerable to disruptions in their routine brought on by stress and other factors. To find out how we can help you, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230.
