When you imagine holiday threats to your smile, you likely think about foods and drinks first. Fair enough – the winter season is known for its various tooth-rotting sweets, treats, and so on. It isn’t just festive meals that harm your grin, though; holiday stress also impacts oral health. Your anxiety levels over the coming weeks could do a number on your mouth. As for the specifics, let your Hoover dentist fill you in through this helpful summary.
Holiday Stress’s Oral Effects
Rather than staying “all in your head,” holiday stress often prompts oral issues. Notable examples of these problems include:
Bruxism
Many develop bad cases of bruxism – also known as teeth grinding – from holiday stress. As their anxiety builds from seasonal reunions, parties, and more, they (often unconsciously) press their pearly whites together too forcefully. The result is an increased risk of enamel erosion, as well as chipped or cracked teeth.
TMJ Issues
Should you get really stressed this season, you’ll likely experience some TMJ issues. People tend to clench their jaws when they worry a lot, causing the joints in their jawbone to pop, click, and ache. Such effects will only worsen your tension and put a serious damper on your holidays.
Gum Disease
While stress (holiday-related or not) doesn’t cause gum disease, it often aggravates the condition. High anxiety is known to leave infected gums more damaged, leading to harsher symptoms. It follows that the stress of this season could make the tissues around your teeth quite weak.
Ways to Protect Your Smile from Stress
If you don’t want holiday worries to ruin your smile, make sure to use the following tips:
- Keep a Clean Mouth – Regardless of your stress, you’ll have a safer and stronger mouth if you keep it clean. You should thus remember to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash as needed.
- Consider Opting Out – As important as holiday events seem, you can often opt out of them. Consider skipping the ones most likely to stress you.
- Take Time for Yourself – Amidst all the holiday hubbub, make time in your schedule to get away and relax.
- Get Proper Food & Sleep – By eating a balanced diet and sleeping 7-9 hours a night, you can better manage your stress levels.
Even as holiday stress impacts oral health, you have the power to resist it. Just remember to stick to the tricks above!
About the Practice
Moulton Dentistry of Hoover is based in Hoover, AL. Led by Drs. Moulton and Gunn, our practice aims to be your primary source of comprehensive dental care. We embody that goal by providing preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative treatments, all tailored to your smile’s specific needs. Our team will even help you address all sorts of dental emergencies on short notice! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (205)-988-3360.