The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, but putting all its celebrations together can be taxing on some people’s nerves. It takes a lot of planning, effort, and timing to put together holiday feasts and parties, and between planning meals, preparing the house, stress at work, and buying gifts, many people can start to feel the strain of the season. Unfortunately, excessive stress can take its toll on your dental health even during the holidays. Here are a few dental health issues that can be related to stress as well as a few tips for managing them.
Teeth Grinding Can Lead to Your Dental Health Unwinding
Teeth grinding is a common response to stress, but it can have serious consequences for someone’s dental health. While some people do it consciously during their waking hours, other people do it reflexively while sleeping. By remaining aware of the problem, someone who does it while awake can catch themselves doing it and break the habit. However, if someone is grinding their teeth in their sleep, the best thing to do is to get a mouthguard to wear to bed. This will cushion your teeth and prevent them from grinding against one another.
Dealing with Dry Mouth Can Send Your Holidays South
Saliva is a crucial part of your mouth’s natural cleaning process and protects your teeth from injury by keeping them moist and lubricated. Many people produce less saliva than normal while under stress, and this has the unfortunate effect of leaving their teeth more vulnerable to injury while allowing food debris and bacteria to remain on the surface of the teeth for longer than normal. If these conditions are allowed to persist, they can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If you are worried about dry mouth, drink plenty of water and consider using anti-dry mouth mouthwash.
Canker Sores Are Unpleasant
Many people develop canker sores as a result of stress. While these small sores can be uncomfortable, annoying, and painful, they are not contagious and usually go away on their own after about a week. You can also buy a variety of products formulated to treat them at your local grocery store or pharmacy.
There’s no reason to let the stress of the holiday season harm your smile. By taking good care of them and keeping these tips in mind, you can make sure that your teeth are strong and healthy for the new year.
About the Author
Dr. Thomas A. Gromling earned his dental doctorate at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1979 and has undergone fellowships in forensic odontology at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Virginia Dental Association. His office in Stephens City, VA offers preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more tips on keeping your mouth healthy during the holidays, contact his office online or dial (540) 869-4377.