We’re alive in an amazing time. There are always new things to do or see, there’s breathtaking technology at our fingertips 24/7, as well as opportunities to grow, change, and improve yourself. Modern life can also lead you to suffer excess stress, which can have several detrimental effects on oral health. Being aware of the issues stress can cause to your teeth can help you prevent your modern lifestyle from doing undue harm to your smile. Make sure you don’t let anxiety ruin your smile.
Keep Stress From Grinding You Down
If you find that your way of life has you in a constant state of anxiety, you can start to see it manifest itself in a number of ways physically. One of the ways it does this is by leading your jaw muscles to clench while you are asleep, which can cause you to grind your teeth. This grinding can ruin your oral health if left untreated. Constant grinding can wear down and weaken your teeth, causing them to crack or chip. This can lead to infection and possibly even tooth loss. Although you might not be aware of your grinding, there are several symptoms related to it that you can spot, such as difficulty chewing, tooth and jaw soreness, and clicking and locking of your jaw joints.
If you notice that you are suffering from these symptoms, you should visit your dentist immediately. There is a strong possibility you have developed TMJ. Your dentist can treat TMJ by giving you a custom-made mouth guard that you can wear while you’re sleeping, which prevents you from grinding your teeth. Your dentist may also recommend you to a mental health physician who can provide you necessary treatment for stress and anxiety issues.
Take The First Step To Relieving Your Stress
Our dentists can work around your busy schedule to get you the oral care you need. Contact us at our local Austin, TX office at 512-250-9444.
