How Does Stress Cause Gum Disease?
By :
Affordable Dentist | December 26, 2022
It is no surprise that stress can have a damaging effect on your health. Studies have shown that it can lead to serious physical and mental health problems, but did you know it can also lead to gum disease? Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common condition affecting gums. It occurs when plaque builds up on the teeth and irritates the gums, causing inflammation and swelling. While many factors contribute to gum disease, one of them is stress. This blog post will explore how stress causes gum disease and what you can do about it.
What is Stress?
Stress is often thought of as mental or emotional, but it can also be physical. When you experience stress, your body goes into "fight or flight" mode, which means that your sympathetic nervous system is activated. This causes several changes in your body, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, higher levels of adrenaline and cortisol, and increased blood sugar.
All of these changes can have an impact on your oral health. For example, the increased cortisol levels can interfere with the production of saliva, which helps keep your mouth clean and free of bacteria. Higher adrenaline levels can also cause your gums to bleed more easily. And the increased blood sugar can feed the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
So, how does stress cause gum disease? It's not entirely clear, but the combination of these physical changes can make you more susceptible to developing gum disease. If you already have gum disease, stress may worsen by causing inflammation and increasing the number of bacteria in your mouth.
How Does Stress Affect the Body?
The body responds to stress by releasing hormones like cortisol. Cortisol increases the amount of sugar in the bloodstream and suppresses the immune system. This can lead to inflammation, a major gum disease factor.
Chronic stress can also cause teeth to grind, damaging the enamel and leading to gum recession. And, when you're stressed, you're more likely to smoke or chew tobacco, both of which increase the risk for gum disease.
How Does Stress Cause Gum Disease?
It's no secret that stress can hurt our physical health, but did you know it can also lead to gum disease? When stressed, our bodies produce cortisol, weakening the immune system. This makes us more susceptible to infection, and since gum disease is an infection of the gums, it's more likely to occur when we're under stress.
In addition, stress can cause us to grind our teeth or clench our jaw, which can put additional pressure on the gums and lead to inflammation. And finally, when stressed, we may be less likely to take care of ourselves properly, which means we may not brush and floss as often as we should. All these factors combine to make stress a major contributor to gum disease.
What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
The symptoms of gum disease can vary depending on the severity of the disease. Gum disease may cause bleeding, bad breath, and receding gums in its early stages. As the disease progresses, it can lead to periodontitis, an inflammation of the tissues around the teeth. Periodontitis can cause tooth loss, bone loss, and a change in the position of the teeth.
How Can I Prevent Gum Disease?
There are a few things you can do to prevent gum disease:
- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. This will remove plaque from your teeth and gums, which can lead to gum disease.
- See your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. Your dentist can spot early signs of gum disease and help you treat it before it becomes more serious.
- Quit smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease, so quitting will significantly reduce your chances of developing the condition.
- Control your diabetes. Diabetes can increase your risk of gum disease, so keeping your blood sugar under control can help prevent the condition.
- Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet helps keep your whole body healthy, including your gums and teeth.
Conclusion
In summary, stress can cause gum disease in a few different ways. When the body is under too much physical or emotional stress, it can respond by increasing inflammation and decreasing its ability to fight off bacteria. This makes it harder for the body to stay healthy and increases the risk of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. It’s essential to manage your stress levels to avoid gum disease in the future. With proper care, regular checkups with your dentist, and some lifestyle changes, you should be able to keep your mouth healthy for years to come!
