Stress is a common occurrence. So not to worry about it.

Excessive stress though is something else. It’s not healthy and it can affect your oral health. One reason, for example, is that stress might cause you to forget brushing your teeth. 

In a new 2019 Nova Scotia Oral Health Report, the Nova Scotia Dental Association says managing stress is good for oral health.

The association defines stress as the feeling of emotional or physical tension, the “body’s reaction to challenges, demands and pressures.”

The Nova Scotia Dental Association is a not-for-profit organization representing 500 dentists in the province of Canada.

It cites numbers coming from Statistics Canada showing that 73 percent of all working adults ages 20 to 64 experienced at least some amount of stress.

“In stressful situations, some individuals will rely on unhealthy habits to cope such as smoking, alcohol consumption, cannabis use and sugary foods and drinks,” the report observes. “These habits can have adverse effects on oral health with links to gum disease, oral cancers and tooth decay.”

Stress may lead to dry mouth, teeth clenching and grinding and canker or sores on the lips. Dry mouth may occur because of the medicines used to manage stress. Without enough saliva, there is a greater risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and infection.

To prevent dry mouth, the 2019 Nova Scotia Oral Health Report recommends chewing sugarless gum and plenty of drinking water.

“A very common reaction to stress, teeth clenching and grinding can lead to headaches and migraines, fractures of teeth and fillings, joint and muscle pain, receding gums, tooth sensitivities, loosening of teeth and even complete tooth loss,” the report says.

The Nova Scotia Dental Association recommends consulting a dentist on whether a dental night guard is advisable; a night guard is worn over teeth for protection from injury caused by teeth grinding.

Stress puts the immune system under pressure, which can lead to breakouts of oral sores because the body’s resistance is not strong, the report continues. Canker sores can be very painful, but are harmless, while cold sores are an expression of the usually dormant herpes simplex virus, it says.

“Stress could have an impact on your oral health,” Dr. Nada Haidar, President of the Nova Scotia Dental Association and a practicing family dentist, told Global News. “It’s important for people to recognize that their stress could be affecting their oral health and to continue to share their oral-health questions and concerns with their dentist.”

“Although stress can’t be eliminated, there are things we can do to manage our stress and lessen the effects it has on our oral health,” the report observes.

There are many ways to avoid stress. First, relax. “Stay active, get enough sleep, do activities you enjoy, practice mindfulness, relaxation and breathing exercises,” the report recommends./WDJ