Can Stress Affect My Teeth?

Think Stress doesn’t manifest symptoms in your mouth? Think again! Most people don’t realize that stress not only affects your blood pressure, but can have lasting effects on your teeth and gums.

1. Stress lowers the PH in your mouth to less than 3, an acidic level that helps cavities form.
2. Stress can cause tension in the jaw, leading to grinding and clenching, which causes fractures in teeth and fillings.
3. Stress put you at higher risk for bleeding gums and periodontal disease. Cortisol, a stress hormone, if elevated can cause impairment of the immune system, which then allows bacteria to invade your gums.

How can the dentist help during stressful times?

1. Get a thorough dental cleaning to rid the bacteria overgrowth that causes cavities and bad breath.
2. You may need to get BOTOX injected into the jaw muscle to help relieve the constant damaging pressure.
3. Get a mouthguard professionally made that is of a hard durable acrylic, not the chewy, store-bought kind that may increase grinding.