Stress and your dental health

13 August 2021

Stress and your dental health

It’s fair to say that the last 18 months have been some of the most stressful many of us have lived through.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, almost 80% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Some years ago, we wrote about the impact of stress on your dental health; however, since then, the entire landscape of how we live has changed, and we felt it was time to update that article.

Most people are aware of the general effects of stress, including being harmful to your heart, increasing the risk of a stroke and the potential to cause depression and anxiety. However, did you realise that some of the effects it can have on your mouth include:

• Bruxism (clenching of your teeth).
• Mouth ulcers.
• Gum disease.
• Bad breath.

It goes without saying that the main reason stress has increased is the constant discussion regarding COVID across all news channels. Whilst it’s important to be aware of what’s happening, we’d advise not having constant alerts set up on smartphones, and sometimes just take a break from the unrelenting news cycle. Working from home can also be problematic, particularly when there are small children looking for constant attention, so frequent breaks from your laptop and just moving or taking a short walk can help to lessen a stressful situation.

Our concern regarding these figures stems from the bigger issues which can happen if teeth grinding or gum disease are left unattended. At your twice-yearly dental health check, we do much more than simply have a look at your teeth. We also check the gums and soft-tissue in your mouth to make sure everything is in order. In our minds, a healthy mouth can help to promote a healthy body. If you have any concerns, please speak to David at your next dental health check.