Isn’t it wonderful that no one ever has a stressful moment in their day?  Life is continually relaxed and everything is a luxury.  If this doesn’t sound like your life, you aren’t alone.  Stress at home, stress on the job, students taking finals, you name it, there are unfortunately a lot of “stresses” in life.  Often times people are too wrapped up handling the busyness and stresses of their lives to listen to their body and the indications that problems are about to occur.  

One of the biggest surprises I have had over the years in dealing with patients is how much stress can affect oral health.  If I see changes in a patient’s mouth who is typically very healthy, I routinely ask if they have been under more stress than normal.  The vast majority of the time, the answer is yes.  Certain times of the year seem to be more stressful than others and when it peaks, changes in the oral complex can arise.  Dentists routinely see oral symptoms of stress exacerbated by increased cases of oral facial pain, broken teeth, jaw pain, herpes outbreaks (cold sores), increased swelling and bleeding of the gums and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).  Left untreated, toothaches and headaches can interfere with vital functions such as eating, talking and swallowing.

It is estimated that one out of every four Americans suffers from oral facial pain.  In my experience, a lot of that pain is stress related.  When people are under stress, they have a tendency to clench and grind their teeth excessively.  The chemistry of their body can change and oral problems often arise.  Left untreated, any or all of the symptoms I mentioned above can occur.  These symptoms may also be your mouth's warning signs for more serious health risks.

Not only can stress cause concerns in the mouth, it can also progress to larger health problems in the long run.  We know that stress and stress-related disorders including mental illnesses such as depression are contributing factors—either directly or indirectly—to problems such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease and accidental injuries.

After a thorough examination, diagnosis of the oral problems and screening for a stress-related disorder, dentists can often help patients by referring them to a medical specialist.  The 'team treatment' between dentist and medical specialist ensures both oral and overall problems are being treated and that any medications prescribed do not interfere with each other and inhibit recovery.  I have found that it is difficult for people to identify how much stress they are experiencing and to what degree it is affecting their body until they get sick.  Don’t wait until it is too late and problems are advanced.  There are numerous treatment regimens that can help and each is tailored to your specific needs.  Regular intervals for dental check-ups are a first-line of defense for detecting stress-related disorders early. 

Life can sometimes be rough, but our reaction to stress can significantly affect our long-term health.  Relax, take a deep breath and look at the big picture – life is full of wonder and excitement for each of us to enjoy.