In addition to taking a physical toll on its own, stress can make your health harder to manage by interfering with your routine. At times when you have higher stress levels, you may lean more heavily on more convenient and less healthy meals and snacks. If you have a difficult time keeping up with the pace of your days, you can become less focused on your oral hygiene routines. Stress management has many physical and emotional benefits. One is that your oral health can be easier to manage. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can provide important preventive care in the office, and we can offer guidance on at-home care that will help you avoid smile trouble even in difficult times.
Stress Can Interfere With Your Health In Many Ways
Because stress can impact people in different ways, and to different degrees, it can impact one person in a different way than it impacts someone else. This can be particularly true when it comes to oral health matters. Your heightened stress may lead to changes in your routine and sleep habits, which can interfere with your daily smile care regimen. It can also hurt your teeth because your diet changes for the worse. In some cases, teeth grinding—a physical response to these difficult periods of time—can raise someone’s risk for dental damage. When you have reliable support from your general dentist, and you make your smile care a priority, you can protect yourself even during these difficult stretches.
The Importance Of Sticking To Good Oral Health Habits
A short interruption in your smile care routine can have consequences that linger. For example, if you become less consistent with brushing and flossing, you are more likely to have issues with accumulated plaque and tartar, which will leave you more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. Tartar deposits are particularly concerning, as you will not be able to remove them later when you re-establish your routine. However, your hygienist can clear them from your smile during your next planned teeth cleaning and exam.
Does Stress Cause You To Grind Your Teeth?
Teeth grinding is a physical response to stress that can affect many people. Unfortunately, it can occur during the night, and that unconscious grinding and clenching can lead to serious dental damage! If you are someone who struggles with this, we can provide a custom bruxism appliance to keep your smile safe while you rest.
Your Ankeny, IA Dentist Can Help You Keep Your Smile Healthy
At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we are proud to provide our patients access to consistent and thorough preventive care. Making smile support a priority is important. If you are not consistent, you are more likely to experience issues with tartar buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease! If you have questions or smile concerns, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
