Stress can sneak into life in unexpected ways. From headaches to sleepless nights, it can have serious effects on both the body and mind. But can stress cause tooth pain? Let’s explore the surprising connection between the two and how the emotional state you’re dealing with can make its way to your smile.
Can Stress Cause Tooth Pain? The Links Between Mental and Dental Health
At least once in your life, there comes a time when you’re left wondering – can stress cause tooth and jaw pain? The truth is, there are plenty of links between the two. Being under pressure can indirectly contribute to dental discomfort in various ways. Moreover, it heightens the body’s perception of discomfort, making you more sensitive, no matter what dental issue you’re dealing with.
Bruxism – Grinding or Clenching Your Teeth
When a person is nervous or stressed, clenching or grinding their teeth is almost a natural response. Plenty of studies confirm the link between these two. Officially known as bruxism, this condition mostly happens while you’re sleeping, so you’re not even aware of the problem. However, it can occur during the day, too, especially if you’ve got a lot on your plate at that time.
This constant pressure can lead to increased wear of tooth enamel, sometimes even cracks and chips, as well as issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In most cases, using high-quality nighttime aligners such as the OrthoFX NiTime™ can do wonders for those dealing with bruxism.
Canker and Cold Sores
You’ve probably noticed that when you’re feeling all over the place, your face starts to break out. This can happen inside your mouth, too. According to research, canker sores can develop, likely because the immune system can become compromised when you’re under pressure.
Canker sores are small, white spots with red borders that develop inside the cheek, lip, or under the tongue. They should heal on their own in about two weeks, but they can cause discomfort during that time. Cold sores are pretty similar in that way, and there are plenty of treatment options for both.
Reduced Saliva Production and Changes in the pH Levels
Studies suggest that reduced saliva production correlates to higher levels of stress. It makes perfect sense – when they’re feeling under pressure, many people breathe through the mouth, which can cause dry mouth (xerostomia). This also alters the pH balance of the saliva, increasing acidity levels.
Dry mouth and altered saliva may not seem like a big deal, but they’re essential for keeping your teeth healthy and strong. This is because saliva has the job of washing away food debris and bacteria. If there’s not enough of it, or its substance is altered, the risk of tooth decay increases. If you’re dealing with xerostomia, you can always consult your Charlotte, NC, dentist to get to the bottom of it and find a solution that works best for you.
Neglecting Your Oral Health Routine
It’s nothing to be ashamed of – when we’re under significant pressure, most of us tend to neglect our self-care routines, including brushing and flossing. You don’t have the energy, time, or mental capacity to get through it, and you might be eating differently also, snacking on plenty of sugary foods constantly.
There’s no surprise here – neglect your oral hygiene routine for too long, and there will be plenty of troubles down the road. Dental discomfort and gingivitis are just the start. So, no matter how hard it feels, and we know it’s hard, try to keep up with the routine. You can also schedule a professional dental cleaning to truly recover from this stressful period in both body and mind.
Affecting Gum Disease Progression Through the Immune System
Constant stress can negatively impact the immune system, changing the way the body regulates inflammations, infections, and wound healing. So, when you’re dealing with conditions such as gingivitis, the compromised immune system might not be able to fight off its progression into periodontal (gum) disease.
When Is It Time to Talk to Your Dentist in Charlotte, NC?
If you’ve got dental discomfort that you suspect is caused by stress and worry, the right course of action is to address both issues at hand. If these feelings just won’t go away, talk to both a mental health professional and your Charlotte dentist in SouthPark.
Don’t sit around wondering things like – can stress cause wisdom tooth pain? Make a dentist appointment to figure out the root cause and what needs to be done about it. Our team at Aspire Dental Wellness can help in numerous ways:
- Recommend or custom-make nighttime aligners to minimize the consequences of teeth grinding, as well as improve your teeth alignment,
- Provide professional laser deep cleaning to help with your overall oral health,
- Solve any dental concern you might have with the help of laser dentistry for cavities, TMJ, and much more,
- Recommend medications for temporary relief throughout the treatment,
- Offer advice on how you can improve your oral hygiene routine even in times of increased stress.
There’s No Room for Stress at Aspire Dental Wellness
The Aspire Dental Wellness team, led by Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, can help you solve any dental concerns you might have. However, there’s one important thing that makes us different. We have built our practice on unwavering commitment to providing every patient with dental care like they’ve never experienced before.
Our dental chair is your invitation to sit back and relax. We offer soothing amenities such as aromatherapy and paraffin hand treatments to really feel pampered while you’re under our care. Moreover, our holistic dentistry approach will make sure both your body and mind are taken into consideration. Contact us today to discover the magic that lies behind a true stress-free dentistry practice.
