A little bit of stress can be helpful for humans as a burst of energy that advises you on what to do to meet your daily challenges and motivate you to reach your goals. It is also a vital warning system, producing the fight-or-flight response to avoid danger.
Stress is key for survival, but too much can be detrimental. Emotional stress that stays around for weeks and months can weaken the immune system and cause high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and heart disease.
The stress of life takes a toll on our overall health as well as on our oral health. Stress can cause an individual to be less attentive to their oral hygiene, as well as leading to a harmful parafunctional habit of clenching and grinding their teeth.
BRUXISM is the involuntary masticatory muscle activity that is characterized by clenching and/or grinding of the teeth at night during sleep. The biting forces during bruxism is 5 times that of normal biting force, which explains the negative consequences of fractured or worn teeth, loose teeth, and failing dental implants.
The emotional, physical, and financial stress can take its toll on your mind, body, and spirit. Exercise, a balanced diet, and a positive mental attitude are all ways to help reduce stress and ultimately help promote periodontal health.
SMOKING: you are already aware of devastating effects that smoking and tobacco use can have on your heart, lungs, and other organs. Tobacco also is a significant risk factor in the development and progression of major tooth loss in adults.
