Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Stressing Your Smile

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Stress does lots of nasty things to our bodies including our smiles. Excess stress can cause mouth sores, teeth grinding and gum disease. Since it is hard to completely remove stress from your life let's look at what we can do to protect your smile when you are stressed out.

Mouth sores such as canker sores or cold sores can be triggered by emotional upset or stress. These sores usually heal on their own in a week or two. Avoid spicy foods and highly acid foods such as citrus fruits to protect against irritation.

Teeth grinding is common and is called bruxism. Bruxism usually occurs at night and the person grinding their teeth doesn't even know they are doing it. Some people may clench or grind during the day as well. Grinding your teeth can lead to broken teeth, destroyed dental work, worn down teeth and problems with the jaw joint. Jaw joint problems (TMJ) can be very painful - symptoms include headache, facial pain, neck pain, ear aches and tinnitus. Your neuromuscular dentist can create an appliance that will protect your teeth while you sleep and keep your jaw and facial muscles comfortable.

Stress can cause an increase in dental plaque which can lead to gum disease. Add to this the fact that people who are very stressed may affect normal habits including oral hygiene care. Try to remember to brush and floss every day and keep eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Comfort food may sound good when we are stressed but proper nutrition will help you more in the long run.

To schedule your next appointment please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at 561-394-9000 today.

Labels: canker sores, gum disease, teeth grinding, TMJ