Your diet, your oral hygiene routine, and the frequency of your regular dental exams can all be factors in your ability to maintain your oral health. What you might not realize is that your stress levels can also play a part in affecting the condition of your teeth and gums. In stressful periods, you may not notice how small changes in your routine, or your diet, are negatively influencing your dental health. If your stress leads to a problem with teeth grinding, you can develop new concerns about dental wear and tear, chronic pain, and potentially serious harm to your enamel. Our Rowlett, TX dentist’s office is prepared to help patients keep their teeth in good condition. In addition to providing important dental services, we can provide guidance on how you can make sure you are taking care of your teeth between appointments!
Recognizing The Potential Influence Of Stress On Your Oral Health
How much of an impact can stress really have on your smile? Because stress is something that can affect just about every person at some point in their life, it can feel like an unavoidable issue. However, if you are in a prolonged period of unease, or if you often feel your stress levels spike, you should be aware that it can affect your oral health in different ways. In terms of impacting your routine, stress can lead people to eat a less healthy diet, which can make them more likely to experience tooth decay. If you are often feeling overwhelmed or fatigued, you may be more prone to skipping your brushing and flossing sessions, or rushing through them. As a result, you are more likely to experience a buildup of plaque and tartar, and that can raise your risk for gum disease and cavities.
Should You Change Your Approach To Daily Smile Care?
If you are not doing so already, you should make your oral hygiene routine a priority. When you think about dental care as something fixed in your day – meaning it is not something you can skip if it is inconvenient – you can do a better job preventing tartar accumulation. Make sure your routine includes:
- Brushing at least two times a day
- Flossing at least once a day
- Two minutes per brushing session, with an emphasis on fully cleaning every part of your smile
- Effort to thoroughly clean at your gum line in order to prevent the formation of gingivitis
Stress May Cause You To Unconsciously Grind Your Teeth
As a result of ongoing stress, people can sometimes develop a tendency to grind their teeth. If this is happening at night, it may take a special oral appliance to stop you from doing permanent damage to your smile. Focus on reducing your stress in the evenings, and cut down on caffeine and alcohol, to reduce your chances of grinding. If the problem is poorly managed, it can lead to damages that call for cosmetic dental work, or even call for the placement of dental crowns.
Rodem Tree Dental Is Proud To Help Rowlett Families Care For Their Smiles
Rodem Tree Dental is proud to provide quality dental health services to families in and around Rowlett, TX! If you would like to learn more, please contact us at 972-475-2321.
