You may be well aware that prolonged periods of stress can cause problems for you. What you might not anticipate is the different ways stress can interfere with your quality of life. You should know that if you are having a hard time managing your stress, you may unwittingly change your daily behaviors in ways that put you at greater risk for dental problems. A lack of focus on your oral care routine, a reliance on less healthy meals, and problems with teeth grinding can all negatively contribute to your dental well-being. While it may be difficult to live a stress-free life, it is important to recognize how it might be affecting you so that you can react accordingly. Your Seattle, WA dentist wants you to maintain your best, healthiest smile. We can provide important preventive dental care during dental exams in addition to guidance on smarter daily behaviors.
How Does Stress Affect Your Smile?
Some consequences of stress can have an indirect effect on your dental health. People sometimes change their eating habits during tense periods, which can lead to a less nutritious diet that contains more sugar. They can also leave themselves less time for self-care, which means their brushing and flossing can become less effective. Of course, there is also a more direct consequence of stress that you should worry about if you want to take care of your smile. If you begin grinding your teeth, particularly while sleeping, you may wind up with serious harm to your enamel. The damage may be serious enough to require restorative dental services.
Maintaining A Good Oral Hygiene Routine
It can be a good idea to “check in” with yourself as you go about certain routines, especially those routines that can start to feel like second nature. If you have recently had to receive a dental filling or dental crown because of a cavity, and you want to make sure you are cleaning your teeth effectively, consider the following:
- You should be brushing your teeth for at least two minutes – if you are unsure how long you currently spend, time yourself
- Flossing should take place each day, not just when you think something is stuck between your teeth
- Your diet choices matter, as you can make it harder to prevent cavities by eating less healthy foods
- Proper hydration can help you naturally fight oral bacteria throughout the day, so make sure you are drinking enough water
Nightly Teeth Grinding Could Be More Harmful Than You Realize
If you let a nightly teeth grinding habit go unchecked, it may lead to serious harm for your smile. Over a period of time spent grinding your teeth, your smile can start to look older and worn down. You can also find yourself noticing small chips and cracks that worry you, and dealing with chronic jaw pain.
Hygge Laser Dentistry Provides Oral Health Care For Seattle Families
At our Seattle, WA dentist’s office, we can help our patients maintain healthy smiles through preventive and restorative care. To find out how we can help your family, call Hygge Laser Dentistry at 206-789-2555.
