If you think about what lifestyle changes can best help you protect your smile, your first thoughts can turn to your diet and your brushing and flossing routine. These are certainly important to your dental health, but they are not the only changes that can be beneficial. Sometimes, patients start to struggle with their oral health because they are not tending to something that concerns their general well-being. Poor stress management can make proper smile care more difficult, and it can lead to problems like TMJ disorder that affect your quality of life. Our Sheridan, WY dentist’s office can keep you informed about your dental health, and recommend effective behaviors to protect your teeth, during regular dental exams.
Issues With Stress Can Affect Your Approach To Smile Care
If you are going through a prolonged period of stress, you may start to experience problems with your oral health. One reason for this is that your diet may change as a response to stress. When this occurs, you can be more likely to develop a cavity that requires a dental filling or dental crown. Another issue is with your sleep habits. A change that leaves you tired may make you less focused on brushing and flossing, which means tartar deposits are more likely to form.
How Stress Makes People Vulnerable To TMJ Problems
If you are stressed, you may start to grind your teeth throughout the day, or while you sleep. You can stop yourself when you become aware of daily grinding, but nightly grinding can be harder to control. Unfortunately, this means you are more likely to experience problems with TMJ disorder, as the stress put on your joints and muscles can cause problems with joint alignment and movement. In addition, the wear and tear from grinding can lead to wear and tear that calls for cosmetic dental work.
The Importance Of Staying Consistent With Smile Care
Stress can be difficult to avoid at all times, but it is something that can be managed. One thing you can do to avoid stress from poor dental health is see your dentist on a regular basis! With consistent updates about your oral health, you are less likely to be caught by surprise when dental problems develop and worsen. You dentist can also take care of embarrassing and stressful problems with your smile, as well as cold sores that make you self-conscious.
Our Sheridan, WY Dentist’s Office Can Help You Keep Your Smile Healthy
With the right approach to dental hygiene, and an effort to manage stress, you can keep your smile in good condition. For more smile support, or to discuss any concerns you have about your oral health, contact Grinnell Street Dental in Sheridan, WY by calling 307-672-7567.
