Stress affects your overall health and can negatively impact your oral health if left untreated. It is important to understand how stress can influence your oral and overall health and ways you can minimize or prevent it. Stress-related oral health conditions Here are a few examples of oral health issues that can be caused or worsened by stress. Gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease, is when one’s gums become inflamed and may bleed. Without treatment, it can result in gum recession and tooth loss. Chronic stress can lower a person’s immune system, making it hard to fight off infection. Bruxism, or teeth griding and or jaw clenching, often occurs during sleep when people are not aware they are doing it. It can cause headaches, jaw soreness and wear down teeth or cause them to break or become loose. Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in plaque attacks the enamel […]