Can your mouth reveal signs of chronic stress?

Stress manifests itself in a variety of different ways. Most people are familiar with the more common symptoms, like a dip in mood or trouble sleeping, but these are far from the only signs. In fact, it’s thought that chronic stress affects nearly every part of the body, including your mouth.

From grinding to ulcers, take a closer look at the oral health issues that could indicate high stress levels in this guide.

What to do if You Have Oral Health Issues

Before getting into how your mouth can reveal signs of chronic stress, it’s important to take oral health issues seriously and know when to seek medical care.

If you’re suffering from tooth pain that lasts longer than 2 days, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. While NHS appointments can sometimes involve long waiting times, stretching into weeks or even months, proactive care is important. Looking for a trusted local practice, such as The Dental Practice, can help you access quick consultations and, if needed, emergency treatments. Pain in your tooth can indicate a variety of underlying problems, and the sooner it’s treated, the better.

You should also see a dentist immediately if any mouth pain is accompanied by swelling or a fever. If you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, seek urgent care at A&E.

For mouth ulcers, book an appointment with your GP if they last longer than 3 weeks. You should also speak to your GP if you have any unexplained oral health issues, like signs of oral thrush or red and white patches that don’t go away within 2 weeks.

Is Your Oral Health Linked to Chronic Stress?

Chronic stress has been linked to a whole variety of physical health issues, from gastrointestinal problems to hormonal fluctuations (a common impact of stress on women’s bodies). It’s now well-documented that stress also leads to oral health problems. 

But what symptoms should you be looking out for? Let’s take a closer look at how your mouth could indicate that you’re struggling with chronic stress.

Teeth Grinding and Stress

Teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) involves clenching and grinding your teeth together while you sleep. It’s completely involuntary and leads to a whole host of problems, including jaw pain, headaches, and damaged teeth. 

It’s also a key indicator that you’re struggling with burnout. In fact, people with chronic stress are 97% more likely to develop bruxism, making it one of the most obvious signs that you’re under too much pressure.

What’s particularly tricky about teeth grinding is that it’s hard to tell if you’re doing it. Unless you have a partner who sleeps beside you, your best bet is to use a sleep recorder and listen for repetitive squeaking, which is a telltale sign of bruxism. 

Your dentist can also diagnose you. Repetitive grinding tends to flatten the tops of your teeth, leading to straight, level rows that make it easy for dentists to spot bruxism. It can also cause receding gums and abfraction, where sections of the teeth break off at the gumline. 

Can Stress Cause Mouth Ulcers?

Ulcers (also known as canker sores) are open wounds in the mouth. They’re typically circular and often appear white or grey in colour, with a red border. They’re painful and irritating and can become infected, making them an oral health issue to avoid.

Unfortunately, high levels of stress are a common cause of mouth ulcers. If you frequently suffer from these painful sores, it could be a sign that you’re burnt out or under too much pressure.

But why does stress lead to ulcers? That’s a little less clear. One theory is that high levels of cortisol suppress the immune system, and it’s this that leads to ulcers.  

It may also be that when you’re stressed, you spend less time on oral hygiene. Poor mental health has long been linked to less brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups, which could be a trigger for ulcers.

Gum Inflammation

High levels of stress cause inflammation throughout the body. This, again, is linked to the immune system, where stress-related imbalances mess with the body’s anti-inflammatory and inflammatory responses. 

Your mouth is no exception here. Chronic stress can amplify gum inflammation (also known as gingivitis) and worsen the symptoms of gum disease. If you experience sore, painful gums when you’re feeling burnt out, this is probably why. 

It’s also been noted that stress reduces salivary production, leading to a drier mouth that makes it easier for plaque to build up. This encourages the growth of bacteria, which irritates gums and worsens gingivitis. 

Can Stress Cause Tooth Pain?

The impacts of chronic stress on your mouth can absolutely lead to tooth pain. In particular, bruxism and inflammation are two big triggers for aches and pains in your teeth.

Bruxism wears down enamel as you grind your teeth, leading to increased sensitivity. You might feel pain when eating hot or cold foods, or from cooler air touching your teeth.

Grinding can also strain the ligaments around your teeth and irritate your jaw. If you experience tooth pain alongside headaches and tension, there’s a good chance it’s because of bruxism.

In pretty severe cases, you might even chip or crack a tooth from grinding. This can cause severe sensitivity and requires immediate dental care. 

Gum inflammation, on the other hand, leads to pain from pressure around your teeth. While the pain is likely to be in the gum itself, it can radiate and throb, making it feel as though your teeth are hurting.

If you’re very unlucky and very stressed, you might experience bruxism and gum inflammation simultaneously. Grinding puts extra pressure on your already sore gums, making the pain worse and more persistent.

How to Deal With Chronic Stress

Your mouth is a giveaway of underlying stress, and can reveal signs before you’ve noticed it yourself. To protect your oral health (and your physical health in general), here are some tips from the Anti Burnout Club to reduce and prevent chronic stress:

• Prioritise consistent sleep, aiming for between 7 and 9 hours each night.
• Practice mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and meditation.
• Get daily exercise, even if it’s just a brisk walk.
• Limit caffeine and sugar. 
• Set realistic boundaries to prevent overwhelm and burnout.
• Engage in activities that genuinely help you relax and recharge.

Join the Anti-Burnout Club

Dealing with chronic stress is never fun, and it’s worse if you’re going through it alone. That’s where we come in. The Anti-Burnout Club is a community for people to come together and choose a more relaxed way of life, overcoming chronic stress for better physical and mental health.

To access hundreds of free resources and attend our workshops, join The Anti-Burnout Club today.