{"id":705,"date":"2019-11-17T14:17:29","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T14:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.junobeachsmiles.com\/blog\/?p=705"},"modified":"2019-12-06T14:17:45","modified_gmt":"2019-12-06T14:17:45","slug":"dentist-stress-and-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.junobeachsmiles.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/17\/dentist-stress-and-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental and Oral Health: How Stress Affects Your Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Stressed<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s money, pressure\nfrom your job, your relationships, or your overall health, you probably have\nplenty of reasons to be stressed. Unfortunately, the effects aren\u2019t just in\nyour head; about 77% of Americans suffer from physical symptoms related to\ntheir stress \u2013 and recent studies show that some of those symptoms could be\nthreatening your smile. Keep reading to learn more about the link between stress\nand your oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Does Stress Affect Oral Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One study<\/a>\npublished in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society <\/em>examined the\nmental and oral health of over 2,700 Chinese Americans over the age of 60. It\nwas found that those who had higher levels of perceived stress tended to have\nsymptoms of dry mouth, meaning their mouths were producing less saliva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry mouth can be the root for many oral health complications.\nSaliva plays an important role in neutralizing acids produced by bacteria in\nyour mouth and washing away food particles. If you\u2019re not producing enough saliva,\nplaque could build up more easily on your teeth, leading to an increased risk\nof tooth decay and gum disease. Other consequences of dry mouth can include\npainful sores, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and oral yeast infections.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stress has been connected to other oral health concerns as\nwell. For example, people who are constantly worried might grind their teeth\ntogether at night, wearing down their enamel and putting stress on their jaw\njoints. Also, feeling like you have too much to do can lead to spending less\ntime on oral hygiene \u2013 in other words, not brushing or flossing as regularly as\nyou should be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do About Dry Mouth Brought About by Stress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few different products that can be used to help\nmoisturize your mouth if you\u2019re not making enough saliva naturally. This might\ninclude special mouthwashes that are meant to provide extra protection against\ncavities. Artificial saliva is also sometimes an option. For particularly\nsevere cases, you might need prescription medication and fluoride trays to wear\non your teeth at night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, you should also be taking steps at home to\nrelieve your dry mouth symptoms and avoid complications. This includes drinking\nplenty of water to keep your mouth moist or chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate\nsaliva production. And of course, you should always make time to brush and\nfloss twice a day no matter how busy you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most oral health problems only become worse over time when\nleft alone. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to address the symptoms of dry mouth as\nsoon as possible; by preventing dental issues from becoming bigger, you give\nyourself one less thing to worry about and can focus on getting your stress\nunder control!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At Juno Beach Smiles, we use the latest technology such as\ndental lasers and digital imaging to transform smiles with cosmetic dentistry.\nWe\u2019re also dedicated to providing excellent preventive\ncare<\/a> so that you can enjoy your improved pearly whites for years to come.\nTo schedule an appointment for dry mouth, visit our website<\/a> or call (561)\n622-7243.<\/p>\n\r\n