Stress can take a toll on your body. In fact, it can even affect your oral health in more ways than you might realize. When you’re stressed, it can promote bruxism (grinding and clenching your teeth), jaw pain, canker sores, and even gum disease. So, when you’re stressed, it’s important to take good care of your mouth. To help you do so, our dentist, Dr. Bogdan Bodroug, has some recommendations for you.
First, get physical. This means you should release your stress through exercise. Go to the gym, go for a run, or try yoga. You could even get a massage or take advantage of physical therapy. Being active can help you release the stress and tension you are feeling.
Second, have a balanced diet and rest as much as possible. This means you need to have three solid and healthy meals a day. Make sure you eat nutritious and sustaining food. This can help your body feel satisfied and relaxed. When it comes to resting, try to get a good night’s sleep and take naps if you need to. You could also try meditation to slow and ease your mind.
Third, share your feelings. Oftentimes sharing your feelings of stress and anxiety with a counselor, friend, or family member can take that heavy, stressful weight off your shoulders. It will most likely not solve the issue, but it can help you feel better, which might reduce the stressful effects to the mouth.
If you have any questions or if you would like to know more about how to maintain a top-notch oral health in Vancouver, Washington, please reach out to Quality Dental Care at your earliest convenience at 360-448-7018. Our dental team will be more than happy to help you, and we look forward to your phone call!