If you’ve recently been under a lot of stress, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, stress is a common factor in poor oral hygiene. As your trusted dentist in Westminster, MD, we want to keep you informed on how stress affects your dental health.
Plaque and Tartar Buildup
When your daily routine is thrown off by copious amounts of stress, you are more susceptible to plaque and tartar buildup. This is because stress makes it difficult to know what to prioritize. Often, patients push their oral health off to the back of their minds when they are under stress. Sometimes, this leads to a lapse in their daily oral hygiene routines which only creates more problems down the road. You should maintain your best oral hygiene habits even under high stress to prevent plaque and tartar buildup from occurring. Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day will help you prevent future stress from dental concerns later on.
Poor Dietary Choices
Stress often leads patients to look for comforting foods or beverages. Unfortunately, most of these substances contain high amounts of sugar and staining agents. Foods like citrus fruits, hard-candies, and potato chips are notoriously hard on your teeth. Additionally, beverages like sodas, teas, and coffee have similar effects. Your smile can begin to dull over time if you continue to consume these substances. If you do indulge in comfort foods, make sure to follow them up with brushing and flossing your teeth. This will help remove any residue left behind on your teeth.
Jaw Pain and Headaches
A common response to stress is clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. Unfortunately, this can translate into uncomfortable jaw pain and headaches. Thankfully, these are symptoms that can be treated by Dr. Bowersox. Our office provides TMJ treatment to help patients determine the cause of their jaw pain and how to relieve it from causing further issues in the future. Additionally, we help our patients stop grinding their teeth with our customized mouthguards. If you’ve been dealing with an unusual amount of stress lately, it may be time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bowersox to see how he can help you combat the symptoms of this stress. We look forward to seeing you soon!