Stress can take a toll on our health, including our oral health.

It’s universally known that stress can take an adverse effect on our health. Stress can create anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, heightened blood pressure, and develop a higher risk of a heart attack, stroke, and heart disease. But what most people don’t know is that stress can take quite the toll on our teeth.

When it comes to oral health, stress tends to cause people to grind and gnash their teeth. Grinding and gnashing will lead to cracks and chips in teeth and can even cause teeth to fall out. Stress can also lead to a sore jaw, dry mouth, and gum disease due to dietary changes or isolation.

To prevent grinding, gnashing, a sore jaw, dry mouth, and gum disease when stressing, here are three tips to prevent stress from hurting your teeth.

1. Jaw Exercises- Exercising and massaging the jaw will release tension.
2. Mouth Guard- Wearing a mouthguard during the night will reduce or eliminate teeth grinding.
3. Drink Water- Water cushions the bones and teeth because it causes the tissue to swell, therefore, reduce jaw pain and the urge to grind teeth. Water also is nutritious for the teeth and gums.

Although these tips will help prevent stress from hurting your teeth, the best solution overall is to learn to control your stress. Ask a doctor of ways you can control your stress and if that doesn’t work, consult a dentist at Desert Ridge Dental on how you can protect your teeth even further.