The doctor spoke about the impact of stress on dental health

Stress affects not only your general well-being, but also the condition of your teeth. Clenching of the jaws, gnashing, as well as deterioration of immunity and changes in eating habits — all this can lead to the development of dental problems. On March 23, Victoria Radko, an orthodontist and head of the orthodontic department at the EUROKAPPA clinic Scientific and Clinical Center, told Izvestia about the impact of stress on teeth and jaw.

According to her, weakened immunity affects the quality of saliva, creating a favorable environment for bacteria and accelerating the destruction of periodontal tissues.

"During times of stress, people are more likely to consume sweets, which contributes to the development of tooth decay. In addition, nervous tension is often accompanied by smoking and alcohol consumption, which negatively affects the condition of the gums. Stress also distracts attention from regular dental care, which increases the risk of inflammatory diseases," Radko explained.

Bruxism manifests itself in the form of gnashing of teeth and excessive jaw clenching. Daytime and nighttime bruxism are distinguished, and the latter can remain unnoticed for a long time.

"Increased tension of the masticatory muscles leads to increased stress on the temporomandibular joint. This can cause headaches, discomfort in the jaw and neck. If a person regularly experiences stress and "takes it out" on their teeth, the enamel becomes thinner, and the load on the teeth is unevenly redistributed, which leads to their pathological erasure," the orthodontist explained.

Among the factors provoking Bruxism, she named smoking, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, increased anxiety, depression, sleep apnea syndrome and respiratory diseases.

Radko recommended controlling stress levels through physical activity, meditation, and quality sleep. She also noted the importance of regular oral hygiene support. To do this, you need to brush your teeth twice a day, use dental floss, do not skip routine checkups at the dentist, and use protective mouthguards for signs of bruxism.

"Timely access to the dentist will help not only to maintain dental health, but also to prevent serious complications. Taking care of the oral cavity is an important part of taking care of the health of the whole body," concluded the specialist.

On March 20, Anastasia Lapina, a dentist and owner of the LA DENTAL Soul clinic, told Izvestia about the most common myths associated with veneers, and also dispelled them. So, many people are sure that installing veneers is expensive. However, modern dentistry offers different types at different prices, Lapina noted. The second myth is related to the fear of teeth grinding. The expert stressed that micro-preparation is currently being performed, in which the tooth itself does not wear off much. Also, some people believe that installing veneers is supposedly an "unexplored technique," although this is absolutely not the case.