True enough, the winter holidays are fun to celebrate. They often feature great parties, games, and meals with friends and family! Still, you might find these festivities draining as well. The resulting anxiety could then damage your mouth. Luckily, it isn’t too hard to avoid that latter outcome. Your Harker Heights dentist can even offer some tips. To that end, here’s how holiday stress affects oral health and what you can do to manage it.
How Can Holiday Stress Affect Oral Health?
If you get stressed during the holidays, note how your mouth is doing. There’s a good chance it’ll develop oral disorders like:
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding (i.e., bruxism) usually stems from an improper bite. However, holiday stress can quickly worsen it. It’d tempt you to clench your jaw all the more tightly (whether asleep or awake).
If you can’t tell if you’re grinding your teeth, look for relevant symptoms. Telltale signs include headaches, face pain, disturbed sleep, and worn chompers. Should these apply to you, talk to your dentist at your next checkup.
TMJ Pain
When you get overwhelmed by the winter holidays, you might overwork your jaw in response. This habit is common enough. Left unchecked, though, it might result in TMJ pain.
Of course, jaw aches aren’t the only sign of TMJ troubles. You should also see if your jaw is popping or clicking. Similarly, confirm whether you have pain in or around your ears. Should all these symptoms apply, you may need a trip to the dentist.
Canker Sores
As you might know, canker sores are mouth ulcers. They’re normally caused by overbrushing and biting your cheek harshly. That said, stress from the holiday season can also trigger these blemishes.
If you find yourself with canker sores, don’t panic. They should clear up in one or two weeks. In the meantime, you can manage them with mouth rinses and medication.
What Can You Do About It?
For the sake of your smile, you should try to fight holiday stress. There are several ways you could do so, including:
- Avoid Intense Situations – Don’t force yourself to join a stressful holiday activity. Instead, avoid such situations and opt out when you feel overwhelmed.
- Stick to Good Oral Hygiene – When you’re stressed, it’s tempting to skip dental care. Even so, remember to brush and floss daily. Doing so prevents health issues that worsen your worries.
- Try to Exercise – Physically exerting your body can relieve stress. Given that fact, hobbies like exercise, massage, and physical therapy may help.
Holiday stress affects your oral health for the worse. Therefore, remember the tips above so your smile stays safe this season!
About the Practice
Market Heights Family Dental is based in Harker Heights, TX. Led by the amazing Dr. Angie Lim, our practice strives to give each patient quality care. That means we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental work. Our team will keep your smile nice and healthy over the holiday season! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (254)-699-3565.