Do Your Teeth Reveal Your Stress Level?
Your smile says a lot about you. People who share their smiles easily are often seen as friendly, outgoing, and confident. Those who cover up their smile or only offer a close-lipped smile are generally seen as standoffish, unapproachable, or unfriendly. Yet, most people who do not offer a smile freely do so because they are embarrassed by the appearance of their teeth. Many people feel self-conscious about stains or gaps, while others have noticed unwanted changes in their teeth that they do not want others to notice.
If you have noticed changes in your smile, it is important that you pay attention to these changes and bring them to your dentist’s attention. One of the most common changes in appearance to the teeth is due to the negative effects of stress on your body.
Stress needs to release itself in some way. Many people go for a run to relieve stress, while others enjoy sitting on a counselor’s couch and venting about life. However, for those who are not proactive at relieving stress in their lives, they often find that stress will relieve itself – and not in positive ways.
Many people find that their smiles face negative effects because of stress. Teeth grinding is a very concerning effect of stress that can wear down tooth enamel and permanently damage the teeth. While all teeth are coated in enamel, beneath the layer of enamel are the roots and nerve endings that supply the lifeline to each tooth. If a tooth’s inner layers are exposed, extreme tooth sensitivity can occur, and damage to the tooth can cause it to die.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is most commonly done at night during sleep. The body is releasing stress from the day by causing you to put enormous amounts of pressure on your teeth. If you consistently wake up with headaches or jaw pain, this is a good indicator that you are grinding your teeth at night. You should speak with your dentist about this concern before irreversible damage occurs to your smile.
If your teeth reveal how stressed you are, take a proactive approach, and call Feather Touch Dental Care today.
Posted on Behalf of Feather Touch Dental Care