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5 Ways Stress Affects Your Teeth

Teeth problems can occur as a result of many things but stress is a major one of them. If you are thinking about taking stress problems lightly, then you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life. Stress can cause havoc in far greater ways than you had ever imagined. Many of these problems will lead you to undertake a dental surgery as well. Here is a list of all the ways in which stress can affect your teeth.Teeth problems can occur as a result of many things but stress is a major one of them. If you are thinking about taking stress problems lightly, then you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life. Stress can cause havoc in far greater ways than you had ever imagined. Many of these problems will lead you to undertake a dental surgery as well. Here is a list of all the ways in which stress can affect your teeth.

Teeth Grinding

The practice of clenching or grinding the teeth has a particular medical term attached to it which is bruxism. People usually don’t know that they are having bruxism. This is because most people tend to grind their teeth at night while they are asleep. Then how will you understand whether you have bruxism? Well, if you sleep with someone by your side, that person might be able to tell you from the clicking sound of your teeth at night. Otherwise, you will have to check the ends of your teeth. If they appear flatter, then it might be due to your grinding habit. Whenever you are tensed or stressed, you might develop the habit of teeth grinding. This will degrade the joints in jaw region. 

TMJD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Leading to Dental Surgery

TMJD is one of the major results of stress. TMJD is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint which acts as a connector between your skull and the lower jaw. The popping in your jaw or a feeling of soreness are most of the times a result of the TMJD. People who experience TMJD often face problem in moving their jaws. But you must be thinking how can stress lead to a joint disorder? Well, the answer to your question lies in the fact that human tends to clench or grind their teeth whenever they are stressed. This leads to an overuse of the jaw muscles which, in turn, leads to the development of TMJD.  Once you develop TMJD, you might even need to undergo a dental surgery if the condition is too grave.

Canker Sores

The canker sores are more commonly seen in women than in men and they develop when you are highly stressed. The exact reason behind their development is yet not known but stress is highly related with their development. Canker sores are minute and they have a grayish base. The borders of the sore are usually red in color. They occur inside the mouth and they can occur in high numbers as well. 

Gum Disease

When people take too much stress, then become prone to developing gum diseases as well. But where is the link between gum disease and stress? Researchers suggest that with a growing stress, the immune cells are not produced in the body and the body cannot combat the bacteria the way it should. Thus stress makes your body handicapped when it comes to fighting the bacteria and the bacteria keeps thriving and causing infections. Thus, starts the development of gingivitis and later on periodontitis develops if you do not opt for any treatment. Your gums will bleed and remain swollen at all times. 

Negligence in Oral Hygiene

If you are stressed with something in your life, then you tend to skip your regular oral regime. This leads to the development of infections. From staying awake at night to not doing the daily chores like brushing your teeth, oral hygiene is compromised at every step. People even tend to become prone to eating more sugary foods and at the same time not washing the mouth properly, which leads to cavities and other dental problems. 

So, as you can see from the above points, stress can affect you from the core leading to the development of some of the gravest problems. So, you must take the necessary steps to curb stress if you want to be healthy.