Is anyone feeling stressed these days? What exactly is stress?

One definition that I found is, “Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.  Further, the body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.  Stress is a normal part of life”.

In terms of how stress can affect us as humans, we can age prematurely, our cognitive function is impaired, our energy is drained, and we are robbed of our effectiveness or clarity.  Of course, this happens to varying degrees, but as with a metal object, exceeding a healthy limit can result in a permanent deformation or change that cannot be reversed.  We must look for ways to control how we respond to stress in order to ensure that it does not manifest as a physical, mental, or emotional constant.

From a dental perspective, one manifestation of stress is a disruption of peaceful sleep, which may contribute to a condition known as bruxism (jaw clenching and grinding of the teeth).  It has been shown that stress may also intensify bruxism. Of course, the best remedy would be to find ways of reducing one’s stress to improve overall health, and in turn, reduce the potential to experience bruxism.

At Braeside Dental, our experienced dentists will perform a thorough examination to identify bruxism and work with patients to determine the underlying cause.  Our dentists will then suggest options and strategies to reduce symptoms of bruxism and the damage it can cause.  As an example, a mouth guard or a splint can be worn at night to protect the teeth.  The patient’s future dental health will be improved through early identification and intervention of bruxism.  This is one way to reduce or control the affects stress can have on your body.

The team at Braeside Dental strives to reduce the stress of your dental visit by providing a calm, comfortable, and caring environment, while ensuring that your dental health needs are being taken care of.

Braeside Dental Centre