Stress and Oral Health during COVID19

There are many ways that stress can impact your oral health. We have seen over the past year during COVID19 many oral manifestations of stress and neglect such as:

• fractured teeth
• gingivitis
• periodontal disease
• wear and tear on teeth (flattening of the chewing surfaces)
• TMJ (jaw) and muscular pain
• more susceptibility to oral infections due to a decrease in the efficacy of the immune system

Our immune systems have been challenged by the seemingly overnight changes in our lives such as:  financial circumstances, family relationships, and social interaction not to speak of an overall physical deterioration due to the lack of access to physical fitness centres.

When we are stressed, our bodies release hormones that lead us to eat more, exercise less, sleep poorly, and live with a heightened sense of anxiety or depression. It stands to reason that we are all on the “edge” right now and when this happens, we don’t take as good care of ourselves, including our oral health.

As such, our immune system becomes more compromised and we become more susceptible to other illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. There are many associated links between periodontal (gum) disease and other systemic physical illnesses. For example, there are strong links now documented in the scientific literature between gum disease and:

• Alzheimers
• pulmonary and vascular disease
• arthritis
• low-weight and pre-term babies
• diabetes
• early tooth loss.

Studies show that those of us who lose our teeth early also don’t live as long due to malnutrition in later life. The science conclusively shows that with increased stress comes an increase in physical ailments. That is why it is crucial that you give us a call and come in for an overall examination to ensure that there aren’t any hidden problems in your mouth that can get exacerbated and translate to bigger health issues down the road.

Call us at Periodontal Specialists Phone Number 866-473-7464. We look forward to hearing from you.