1. Tooth Grinding Damages the Jaw and Teeth
Perhaps the most severe stress-related mouth condition is bruxism, or grinding the teeth while sleeping (occasionally, tooth-grinding occurs while you're awake as well). Tooth grinding can result in temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly called TMJ, wherein the jaw joint becomes misaligned. TMJ causes a popping or crackling noise when talking or eating, and is usually accompanied by pain. The TMJ Association (www.tmj.org) provides information and links to resources.
Tooth grinding can also result in cracked teeth and irritated gums. When teeth crack or fracture, you can develop an infection.
2. Stress Can Trigger Mouth Ulcers
Stress is a common cause of mouth ulcer outbreaks. Mouth ulcers, including canker sores and ulcers caused by the herpes simplex virus I, are a common complaint of stressed-out students, according to research by the Academy of General Dentistry (www.agd.org). "The sores seemed to appear less frequently after graduation when stress levels were lower," stated a report published in the academy's clinical, peer-reviewed journal, "General Dentistry."
3. Energy Drinks Have Long-Term Effects
Energy drinks, which you might drink to get a quick burst of energy when stressed or fatigued, can cause dental erosion. The pH levels in beverages such as soda can lead to tooth erosion, and research shows that a beverage’s "buffering capacity," or its ability to neutralize acid, also plays a significant role in the cause of dental erosion. The results of the study, which were published in "General Dentistry," show that energy and sports drinks had the highest mean buffering capacity, resulting in the strongest potential for erosion of enamel.
4. Cigarettes Impact Oral Health
Stress also leads many people to smoke cigarettes. When nicotine is consumed, the body believes it's being poisoned and releases adrenaline (the fight-or-flight hormone). When the adrenaline isn't used, the body then releases calming hormones—this is why smokers believe nicotine calms them.
New research shows that the No. 1 lifestyle factor that independently impacts the progression of periodontal disease is smoking. The study of Japanese factory workers showed that more than 41 percent of study participants who showed periodontal disease progression from 1999 to 2003 were current smokers. "Our findings are in line with other studies that have identified smoking as a strong lifestyle factor affecting oral health," said study author Muneo Tanaka, D.D.S.
5. The Sleep-Mouth Health Connection
Neglecting sleep creates stress, which initiates a downhill progression of poor oral health. In the Japanese study mentioned above, researchers also examined the effect of lack of sleep on mouth health. They found that lack of sleep is a significant lifestyle factor that may play a role in the progression of periodontal disease. Participants who received 7 to 8 hours of sleep exhibited less periodontal disease progression than those who received 6 hours of sleep or less.
