THE DENTAL PRACTICE
News & Articles

Contact Us Today!

If you would like to discuss your dental concern with a member of our dental practice, please click the link below to provide your details. Our team will promptly reach out to you.

THE STRESS TEST

Stress can lead to a myriad of health issues, not least the condition of your mouth. For some, stress can lead skipping out on brushing or flossing altogether, while others develop habits of teeth-grinding.

Dr. Bruce Ward, a dentist and spokesperson for the British Columbia Dental Association, says that when people are stressed, they often don’t even think about oral health.

“That’s one of the first things to go,” he said. “People basically stop taking care of their teeth because they’re stressed out.”

What can stress do?

The worst offender, Ward said, was grinding your teeth.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a common issue among adults and children. About eight per cent of adults and 14 per cent of kids reported grinding their teeth several times a week, the Canadian Sleep Society reported.

“I’d say the majority of people experience at least some grinding,” Dr. Larry Levin, president of the Canadian Dental Association, previously told Global News.

“It’s often thought to be factored in with some stress in life and I think that depending on what’s happening in your life at the time, you may undergo a period that has a little more tension and that tension can be expressed in tooth grinding.”

Grinding your teeth can impact not only your teeth, but your jaw as well, he added.

“It can harm the teeth in a number of ways, the most obvious being the surface of the tooth,” Levin continued.

“The enamel is worn off and the tooth becomes a little thinner. When that happens, the tooth is more prone to decay, having an easier access into the tooth. Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold things or to more acid things like citrus can be more irritating to people who grind their teeth.”

Ward added he has seen patients who avoided seeking help from a dentist and ended up breaking a majority of their teeth.

He said teeth grinding also adds further stress to the joints in the mouth or causes clicking of the jaw. If you are often stressed and live alone, you should check with a dentist to see if you actually grind your teeth — some people are often unaware.

Symptoms to look out for.

to watch out for include raggedy and sharp front teeth. Treatments often include using a mouth guard.

The BC Dental Association also added dry mouth is a side effect of stress, but also the result of the medicines used to treat stress or depression. 

“The mouth’s first line of defence against bacteria is saliva, and without it there is an increased risk of tooth decay, gum disease and infection,” the association noted.

And similar to canker sores, stress can also lower your immune system and increase the risk of gum disease.

Addressing the stress

Ward said addressing your oral health means understanding your stress first. “You have to look at the stress that you are under and how you are going to alleviate that,” he said. “Once you get a handle on that, your oral symptoms will start to disappear.”

If you see a physiotherapist, you should also bring up issues like teeth grinding. Some physiotherapists, he said, will offer exercises you can do during the day when you aren’t wearing a mouth guard to alleviate daytime stress. You should also update your current therapist or counsellor to see how else you can manage your day-to-day stress.

Additionally, if you haven’t seen a dentist, book an appointment. A dentist can reveal other oral health conditions you may not be aware of, as well as the current state of your teeth, gums and jaw.

Related Post/News

Dentistry is a broad area that includes a wide range of specialties designed to ensure oral health. There are two key players in this…

Get In Touch With Us Today!

*Some appointments require a refundable deposit during peak hour times.