Holiday stress may be in full swing right now. If you feel overwhelmed by all the gifts, meals, treats, and hosting you’re responsible for, you’re not alone. The reality is that unnecessary stress can affect your oral health. If you want to save your smile and make it through the holidays, here are three things you can do.
How Does Holiday Stress Lead to Poor Oral Health?
It might seem odd to think that the stress you’re experiencing is putting your smile at risk, but it is, and here’s how:
- Teeth Grinding/Clenching (Bruxism): If you are grinding or clenching your teeth because of additional holiday stress, the pressure is wearing down your tooth enamel. It’s also causing unnecessary discomfort in your jaw joints and frequent headaches.
- Canker Sores: While bothersome, these usually heal up after a week or so. Canker sores often form because of stress, and they can develop inside your mouth. Cheek biting and aggressive brushing can also cause them.
- Jaw Pain: When you overwork your jaw joints as a result of stress, it can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD. Bruxism is often a common indicator that something more serious is wrong with your jaw. You may notice popping and clicking noises, or it may feel as if it is locking up.
What Can You Do to Keep Stress From Harming Your Smile?
Instead of just pushing through and thinking there’s not much you can do at this point to save your smile, try these three things:
- Make time to exercise. Physical activity is highly recommended to help manage stress levels. Whether it’s running, jogging, or doing Pilates, moving your body can help release anxiety.
- Prioritize your sleep and eating habits. Unhealthy food may be within reach everywhere you look, but try to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, lean proteins, and calcium-enriched foods. Also, get 8-9 hours of sleep to avoid feeling fatigued each day.
- Drink a lot of water so that your body stays hydrated. Water encourages saliva production, which neutralizes harmful acids and flushes out any bad bacteria. It also helps you avoid dry mouth, which can cause gum disease and tooth decay.
Make sure your smile is ready for the new year by taking proper care of yourself during the holidays.
About the Author
Dr. Megan McInnis earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2013 from Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. Passionate about helping others preserve their smiles, she regularly offers individuals tips on how to maintain better oral health, especially around the holidays. With so many foods, beverages, and stress attempting to harm teeth and gums, she can recommend various ways to keep smiles looking their best. Contact us at (503) 761-1414 to schedule an appointment and discuss what you can do to maintain the kind of pearly whites you want for the new year.