{"id":231,"date":"2025-12-04T16:36:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riverplacedds.com\/blog\/?p=231"},"modified":"2025-12-19T17:37:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T17:37:07","slug":"holiday-stress-and-its-impact-on-your-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riverplacedds.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/holiday-stress-and-its-impact-on-your-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Keep Holiday Stress From Stealing Your Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Holiday stress<\/a> may be in full swing right now. If you feel overwhelmed by all the gifts, meals, treats, and hosting you\u2019re responsible for, you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Does Holiday Stress Lead to Poor Oral Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It might seem odd to think that the stress you\u2019re experiencing is putting your smile at risk, but it is, and here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Teeth Grinding\/Clenching (Bruxism)<\/strong>: If you are grinding or clenching your teeth because of additional holiday stress, the pressure is wearing down your tooth enamel. It\u2019s also causing unnecessary discomfort in your jaw joints and frequent headaches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Canker Sores<\/strong>: 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Jaw Pain<\/strong>: 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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What Can You Do to Keep Stress From Harming Your Smile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Instead of just pushing through and thinking there\u2019s not much you can do at this point to save your smile, try these three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n