While you might have a hard time finding someone who likes experiencing stress, it can be difficult to avoid. When stress is not being properly managed, it can take a toll on your physical health as well as your emotional and mental well-being. You might be surprised to know that periods of stress can even create issues for your oral health! You may have a harder time sticking to a good oral hygiene routine in difficult periods, and you can become more susceptible to bruxism. Your Charles Ciy, IA dentist’s office provides consistent care during dental checkups, but you should make sure you do your part to protect your smile, too. In addition to brushing and flossing, take care of yourself by sticking to a smart diet and working to manage your stress!
Stress And Your Efforts To Prevent Tooth Decay
Your effort to prevent cavities can depend on both your oral hygiene routine and your standard diet. It is important that you are aware of how stress can potential influence your decisions when it comes to both of these matters. When you feel tired, anxious, or tense, you may give less thought to responsible eating and turn to comfort foods that are more harmful to your smile. The fatigue you feel during stressful times may make you feel “too tired” to brush before bed, or keep you from giving brushing and flossing the attention they deserve. Even short periods of disruption to your oral care routine can be enough to let tartar accumulate, which can lead to problems that require restorative dental work.
The Link Between Stress And Bruxism
People who grind their teeth at night often develop this problem during a period of stress. If this happens to you, it may become even harder to maintain your mood because you now wake up with facial pain, sore teeth, or stiffness in your neck and jaw. Over time, bruxism can give you more to worry about – the pressure from grinding your teeth can lead to serious dental damage. A custom mouth guard can stop teeth grinding before it hurts the quality of your smile, or leads to damage that requires dental crowns. You can also take care to prevent bruxism by focusing on controlling this habit while you are awake, and through changes in your diet and nightly routine.
Make Sure Your Smile Is Properly Cared For During Stressful Periods
By properly caring for your smile consistently – even when you are stressed – you are less likely to have issues with tooth decay. When you feel stressed, think critically about seemingly small changes in your routine. Rather than indulging in unhealthy foods, or skipping proper brushing so you can sleep a little longer, try to maintain better habits. Staying in control of your daily life can give you stronger feelings of control, and it can help you avoid dental health problems that add to an already difficult time.
Central Park Dentistry Helps Charles City, IA Families Maintain Healthy Smiles
At Central Park Dentistry, we are proud to provide a variety of services to help area families take care of their teeth. To find out more, please call our Charles City, IA dentist’s office at (641) 228-1115.
