Stress Related Toothaches
Tooth pain is most often the sign of a dental problem like gum disease or a cavity but sometimes it can be from other causes. Some people suffer from tooth pain when they have a sinus infection and others find tooth pain to be common while dealing with stress. Here’s what you need to know about stress and how it affects the teeth.
Results of Stress on the Teeth
Stress can cause you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth. This can lead to tooth pain or cause TMJ. If your dentist finds that you have TMJ Syndrome you might need a dental splint to reposition the lower jaw. Otherwise, try some warm compresses, eating soft foods and reducing stress.
If the pain is only temporary as a result of stress, you could also try an over the counter pain reliever. This isn’t meant to be a long-term solution to dental pain, but only to be used if the problem is clearly stress related and not a major dental complication.
Oral Care While Stressed
During the stressful times of life, it is more important than ever to take care of your teeth. The additional pressure from the clenching and grinding can cause your teeth and gums to become more sensitive. You will naturally want to abandon your oral care routine, but that would be a mistake.
Follow these guidelines to keep your mouth healthy:
• Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth
• Brush twice a day
• Floss once a day
• Visit the dentist twice a year for a checkup
• Seek out help to reduce the amount of stress in your life
Whenever you are struggling with a toothache, it is important that you visit the dentist promptly. Just because you think it is related to stress doesn’t mean there isn’t a larger underlying dental problem that should be addressed.
Your 46241 dentists can perform a simple exam and rule out any dental issues. It is always better to be safe than have to deal with costly and painful procedures later as a result of not catching issues early enough.
