Do You Know? Your Teeth Affect Your Emotional Health
The bacteria in your mouth can affect your mental health. Researchers have found links between periodontal disease and neurodegeneration and, your mouth can also give intricate details about your emotional state as well.
Did you know a dentist can tell you are stressed out?
Your dentist is amazing! It’s not just a saying; it’s the truth. Dentists can often predict other health problems just by examining your mouth. They can tell if you’re stressed by looking for three main signs: TMJ/TMD (jaw pain and dysfunction), canker sores, and bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching). But stress can cause even more dental issues. Studies are finding links between stress and dental cavities, as well as periodontal (gum)
disease. How does stress cause cavities? It’s all about how stress affects different systems in your body, especially your immune system.
Researchers have discovered that stress weakens the immune system, leading to periodontal breakdown. Stress also reduces saliva production, increasing dental plaque. Saliva helps remove harmful microbes by washing them into the stomach, where they’re killed by stomach acid.
Emotional states like depression and anxiety can worsen this imbalance, causing more aggressive periodontitis. Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, leading to widespread inflammation, including in the gums, which can start gum disease. Stress can also lead to people lapsing on their daily dental hygiene and this can lead to progressive gum disease issues. We at K B Dental are taking a more holistic approach to their patients in order to help them keep their beautiful smiles for years to come.
