Stress and Dental Health

At DentalSpa Indianapolis, we believe that it is important not only to ensure good physical health but also good oral health during this stressful time. Multiple oral health problems can arise during times of stress, including TMJ, gum disease, and mouth sores. In addition, at this time, our office is taking emergency cases including tooth abscesses, dental infections, severe toothaches, or broken or lost dental restorations. Learn more about the links between stress and oral health below:

Dental Problems Tied to Stress

There are multiple dental issues that are often caused by stress, including:

Mouth Sores: Canker or cold sores are often caused by emotional stress. They can also cause pain and feel uncomfortable for patients.

TMJ: Temporomandibular joint disorders can be caused by stress. Clenching and grinding teeth in stressful situations and at night can cause headaches, tooth damage, jaw pain, and other painful symptoms.

Poor Oral Hygiene and Diet: Patients who are stressed may not be giving themselves the time to brush teeth or floss regularly. In addition, a poor diet resulting from stress can cause a lack of vitamins and nutrients. These vitamins and nutrients not only benefit your physical health but your oral health as well.

Gum Disease: Being under stress can affect your immune system and can cause damage to your gums. Periodontitis, or gum disease, is an oral health problem that can cause gum recession and even tooth loss.

Dry mouth: A lack of saliva in your mouth can cause dry mouth. Saliva has many oral health benefits as it washes away food particles from your teeth and gums.

Contact Our Office

Have you noticed any of these dental issues pop up because of stress? Call (866) 486-0230. Dr. Amy Marckese is an Indianapolis dentist that is dedicated to patient care.