Coronavirus Anxiety
Uncertainty is alive and well in today’s modern world. What’s going to happen next seems to be anyone’s guess anymore. All that uncertainty has led to an increase in anxiety for millions of Americans. Whether stuck at home or otherwise, anxiety has affected many.
Anxiety can be detrimental to your health in a variety of ways. In addition to the numerous systems it affects, it can surprisingly have a pronounced effect on your dental health.
Trouble Sleeping
Stress from coping with coronavirus’s impact on our society or from its effect on your health or your family’s health can lead to trouble sleeping. A lack of sleep can then in turn lead to more stress, further worsening the effects it can have on your oral health. From the act of actually falling asleep to staying asleep throughout the night, a continued lack of sleep can lead sufferers to more and more complications.
- Clenching – Clenching your jaw is an unconscious habit that can be taken on for many reasons. One of which is from anxiety sometimes caused by a lack of sleep. Clenching your jaw can lead to teeth cracking or breaking, jaw pain, and headaches.
- Bruxism (Grinding) – Grinding of the teeth is something that typically happens while you’re sleeping. The cause of teeth grinding or bruxism is heavily linked to stress and anxiety. Two things on the rise in the current social climate.
Additional Anxiety Related Dental Concerns
Anxiety reaches far beyond just affecting your sleep and perpetuating further stress that way. It can also cause other oral health-related problems such as:
- Oral care neglect – not regularly brushing or flossing your teeth
- Canker sores – mouth sores brought on by stress among other factors
- Dry mouth – can lead to cavities and tooth decay
- Mouth ulcers – painful sores in the mouth
- Temporomandibular joint disorders – complications ranging from headaches, back pain, to jaw pain
If you suffer from a diagnosed anxiety disorder, some prescribed anxiety medications can lead to a decrease in saliva production, vomiting, anemia, and bleeding of the gums.
Is Your Anxiety Affecting Your Oral Health?
Coronavirus has affected everyone’s life differently. For many, it’s caused significant stress and led to increased bouts of anxiety. Over time this anxiety can lead to serious health risks many of which stem from your mouth and teeth. If you’re dealing with cracked or damaged teeth, or clench or grind your teeth call Dr. Pollock of Rockwall Oral Surgeons today at (469)264-8921 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
