While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season can get stressful. Many people will scramble over the next few days to buy gifts, rush to parties, and so on. That means your grin is in (potential) danger, as anxiety isn’t good for your mouth. You’ll need to take precautions this season if you want to protect your smile from tense feelings. As for the specifics, keep reading to learn about the harsh impact of holiday stress on oral health.
What Does Holiday Stress Do to Smiles?
Stress from the holidays can prompt all sorts of oral issues. Indeed, it often causes the following problems:
Dry Mouth
If you feel really anxious, odds are good that you’ll experience a dry mouth. Your body produces less saliva than normal whenever it suffers from high levels of stress. Your mouth can then become dehydrated, resulting in bad breath and increased levels of plaque and bacteria. (This dehydration gets even worse when you have holiday food and alcohol.)
Teeth Grinding
As you tense from holiday events, you may end up grinding your teeth together. The latter habit (also known as bruxism) puts your enamel at greater risk of chips, cracks, and fractures. Even worse, it can lead to oral injuries that count as dental emergencies – problems that’d greatly disrupt your holidays.
Canker Sores
Many people bite the insides of their cheeks when they feel holiday stress. In doing so, they can trigger canker sores – mouth ulcers that cause varying levels of pain and irritation. Such “sore spots” flare up from acidic, salty, and spicy foods, so they won’t be welcome at most holiday parties.
How to Protect Oral Health from Stress
Despite the points above, you can take steps to protect your oral health from stress. Just remember to do the following:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene – However stressed you do or don’t feel, your smile will be safer if you keep it clean. You should thus remember to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash.
- Find Space for “Me” Time – Even if the holidays leave you busy, make time in your schedule to get away and relax.
- Opt Out as Needed – It’s possible to opt out of many holiday events. Given that fact, consider skipping the ones most likely to stress you.
- Get Proper Food & Sleep – If you get enough sleep each night and follow a balanced diet, you’ll feel less stress that could harm your smile.
You shouldn’t ignore the impact of holiday stress on oral health. Therefore, remember the tips above as you celebrate the season!
About the Practice
Sandy Lake Dental & Orthodontics is based in Coppell, TX. Led by many talented dentists, our practice makes expert, multi-specialty dentistry its main focus. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative treatments, all tailored to your unique smile. That means you can always trust your grin to get the best possible results! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (972)-393-7348.