{"id":284,"date":"2022-04-11T15:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T15:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westhartforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=284"},"modified":"2022-06-02T16:17:12","modified_gmt":"2022-06-02T16:17:12","slug":"chronic-stress-and-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westhartforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/11\/chronic-stress-and-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"The Connection Between Chronic Stress & Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Small doses of stress can motivate you to succeed, boost your brainpower, and even strengthen your immune system. But, when that stress becomes chronic, the consistent feeling of being overwhelmed can lead to health issues like high blood pressure, anxiety, fatigue, and heart disease. Chronic stress can also do a lot of damage to your teeth and gums. Read on to learn more about how chronic stress impacts your oral health as well as what you can do to prevent these issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Chronic Stress Can Negatively Impact Your Oral Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Left untreated, chronic stress can take a major toll on your oral health. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced and released by the adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys. It helps regulate your body’s stress response and can suppress several host response mechanisms when levels are elevated. This may impair the function of one\u2019s immune system, which can increase the risk of gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, according to a study by the Journal of Periodontology, 56% of study participants who have chronic stress also neglected to brush and floss their teeth the recommended amount. They were also much more likely to smoke and participate in other bad dental habits. Patients with chronic stress are also at a higher risk of cold sores, tooth decay, and teeth grinding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Ways to Prevent Oral Health Issues from Chronic Stress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know how chronic stress can impact your oral health, what can you do to keep these issues at bay? A few ways that you can lessen your risk include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n