More of us are expected to face growing stress levels at home and work because we seem to have less time and fewer resources to accomplish our goals. Your physiotherapist may monitor your neck and back problems, but why should your dentist be concerned about your blood pressure?
You might be surprised when you discover that stress impacts your teeth incorrectly. Therefore, contact a dentist in Midtown Manhattan, NY, if you do not want stress to impact your oral health.
How does stress affect your teeth?
- You might Grind Your Teeth.
Although you may not be fully aware of it, teeth grinding as you sleep, commonly called bruxism, can have significant side effects, including headaches, tooth wear, cracked or broken teeth, jaw and neck pain, and tooth fractures.
- You Might Get TMJ Disorder
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) can arise from stress-related teeth clenching and grinding, which might require using a mouth guard or additional dental work.
- You Increase Your Gum Disease Risk.
Your immune system is weakened by stress, making your body less capable of fighting against microorganisms. This can also cause periodontitis and gingivitis.
So what can you do about it?
There are several quick ways to decrease stress on a regular schedule that are unlikely to take up much of your day.
- Go on vacation (while working at a desk)
No, it is understandable that a vacation may not fit into your timetable or budget, but take five minutes to close your eyes and picture where you would go if you could. Try to picture yourself there, fully absorbing the sights and sounds.
Breathe
Although it might take less than a minute, taking a few deep breaths while breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth can be pretty relaxing.
Relax
You tighten and then release each muscle in your body one at a time using the progressive muscle relaxation technique. When you focus on them, you might not see the tight ones.