April is Stress Awareness Month. There’s no better time to remind you of the toll stress can take on your teeth and gums. The good news is, it’s not too tough to avoid stress-related smile damage. 

If you need to visit our Jeffersonville office, call Kirchner Dental today at 812-913-6093. In the meantime, check out our advice.

  • Don’t Skip Brushing and Flossing – Self-care sometimes suffers when you are stressed. That might mean daily brushing and flossing. But you need to do your best to keep up with your oral hygiene routine. If you don’t, you’re more likely to develop cavities and other issues. Those small issues can turn into big problems if they aren’t treated in a timely manner. If you haven’t been brushing and flossing like you should, come see us for a cleaning and exam. 
  • Watch for Signs of Gum Trouble – Stress affects your body’s ability to fight infection, including in your gums. A gum infection can be especially serious as bacteria can enter your bloodstream through your gums. If your gums are tender, bright red, or bleeding, contact us ASAP. Treating gum disease in its early stages maintains your oral health, and your overall health. 
  • Prevent Tooth Grinding With a Mouthguard – Teeth grinding is a stress-related habit that can do major damage to your teeth. It can also cause headaches, a sore jaw, and other symptoms caused by TMJ dysfunction. The good news is, a custom-fit mouthguard is an easy way to stop grinding. 
  • Drink Lots of Water – Stress also tends to dry out your mouth. That’s a problem since a shortage of saliva makes your mouth more hospitable to disease-causing bacteria. You can counter this by drinking plenty of water. You can also encourage saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free mints. 
  • Use Strategies to Stop Your Stress – To tackle stress head-on, try some of the strategies in this short video. Reducing your stress levels will improve your dental health – and your overall health too. 

Call Kirchner Dental in Jeffersonville, IN today at 812-913-6093 or schedule online. You can also visit us in New Albany, IN and St. Matthews.