How Stress Influences Your Oral Health ?

How Stress Influences Your Oral Health ?

The potential fallout from stress and anxiety that can have an effect on your oral health includes :
– Mouth sores, including canker sores and cold sores
– A clenching of teeth and teeth grinding (bruxism)
– Poor oral hygiene and unhealthy eating routines
– Periodontal (gum)illness or deterioration of existing periodontal illness

So how can you prevent these oral health problems?

Mouth Sores
Canker sores — small ulcers with a white or grayish base and bordered in red — appear within the mouth, sometimes in pairs or perhaps greater numbers. Though specialists aren’t sure what causes them — it might be immune system problems, bacteria, or viruses — they do think that stress, as well as fatigue and allergies, can increase the risk of getting them. Canker sores aren’t transmissive.
Most canker sores vanish in seven to ten days. For release from the irritation, try OTC topical anesthetics. To reduce irritation, don’t consume spicy, hot foods or foods with a high acid content(eg. tomatoes or citrus fruits).
Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex pathogen and are transferable. Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that typically appear on or round the lips, but can also crop up under the nose or round the jaw area.


Emotional upset can trigger an onset, as can a fever, a case of sunburns, or skin chafe.
Like canker sores, fever blisters regularly heal on their own in roughly a weeks time. Treatment is available, including over the counter cures and prescription antiviral drugs. Ask your doctor or dentist if you may benefit from either. It’s of extreme importance to start treatment as quickly as you spot the cold sore forming.
Teeth Grinding
Stress may make you clench and grind your teeth — throughout the day or at night, and regularly subliminally. Teeth grinding is also known as bruxism.