How Emotions Can Affect Your Oral Health
The unexpected connection between emotional health and the health of teeth and gums
CORAL GABLES, Fla., December 2, 2020 (Newswire.com) - A leader in holistic dentistry, Miami dentist Dr. Hank Barreto sees firsthand how deeply connected mental health and physical health are. He believes that being aware of this connection is important for everyone, especially during a time when many people are struggling with mental wellness.
According to his team, science continues to study how emotional health impacts other parts of the body, including those that were previously thought unrelated, such as the teeth and gums. While emotional wellbeing might not seem to have a direct correlation with oral health, Dr. Barreto believes stress and anxiety can aggravate conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal disease, and asthma. As a provider of preventive dentistry in Miami, FL, Dr. Barreto thinks it is important to extend this understanding to oral health conditions as well.
Dr. Barreto and his team believe there are many ways that mental wellbeing can negatively affect oral health, including:
1. Unhygienic behaviors - There is a strong correlation between periodontal disease and mental health conditions like anxiety, stress, and depression. This correlation is thought to be due in part to certain behaviors brought on by these conditions, such as failing to brush and/or floss on a regular schedule.
2. Bruxism - Bruxism, a condition where people unconsciously clench, grind, gnash, or grit their teeth, can be caused by emotional turmoil. And over time, it can get so bad that it causes severe damage to both teeth and the structure of the jaw.
3. Gum disease - It's not just poor oral care habits that can lead to gum disease. Stress and other mental health conditions can also weaken the immune system, in turn allowing bacteria to fester which can lead to periodontal illness.
4. Canker sores - Anxiety is thought to make people more prone to canker sores, an irritating oral health condition that can be due to poor hygiene habits and/or anxiety medications.
As a holistic dentist in Coral Gables, Dr. Barreto seeks to help patients keep both body and mind healthy. Readers interested in this sort of Miami dental care are invited to call (305) 648-4998 to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Source: Dr. Hank Barreto
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