Stress may leave your mouth a mess -- Health & Wellness -- Sott.net

Stress may leave your mouth a mess

American Academy of Periodontology
Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:52 CDT

A literature review published in the August issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP) saw a strong relationship between stress and periodontal diseases; 57% of the studies included in the review showed a positive relationship between periodontal diseases and psychological factors such as stress, distress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

"More research is needed to determine the definitive relationship between stress and periodontal diseases," said study author Daiane Peruzzo, PhD. "However, patients who minimize stress may be at less risk for periodontal diseases."

Researchers speculate that the hormone cortisol may play a role in the possible connection between stress and periodontal diseases. A study in the July issue of the JOP found that increased levels of cortisol can lead to increased destruction of the gums and jaw bone due to periodontal diseases. It is well known that periodontal diseases, left untreated, can ultimately lead to bone loss or tooth loss.

"Individuals with high stress levels tend to increase their bad habits, which can be harmful to periodontal health. They are less attentive to their oral hygiene and may increase their use of nicotine, alcohol or drugs," explained Preston D. Miller, Jr., DDS, and President of the American Academy of Periodontology. "Patients should seek healthy ways to relieve stress through exercise, balanced eating, plenty of sleep, and maintaining a positive mental attitude."

Patients should to also keep in mind their "pocket size guide" to periodontal health; periodontal probing depths of one to two millimeters with no bleeding are not a concern but probing depths of three and four millimeters may need a more in depth cleaning called scaling and root planing. Probing depths in excess of 5mm may require more advanced treatment and patients should talk to their dental specialist.

Reader Comments

I see lots of this

By: deej

But I think they would do well to look at more direct effects of stress - like holding tension in the jaw muscles. Often seen as grinding teeth or jaw clenching, it spawns a raft of symptoms - TMJ or TMD, various pains in the mouth, head, neck, and back, tooth micro-fractures, ear ringing, vertigo, etc. etc.
Sure the stress hormones have a huge impact, but much of what I see is likely more direct, stemming from muscle tension - or so it appears to me.
I've obtained significant relief from using a soft mouthguard at night, and working to not hold tension in my jaw -- a difficult project.

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:30 CDT

have to agree although

By: mallee

such a 'simple' remedy won't do much to swell the bank accounts of the 'dental specialists' to whom this article is steering the weak of mind.

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:04 CDT

Upper Cervical Correction

By: Rabelais

Deej, problems such as you report are usually easily corrected with a trip to a chiropractor trained in upper cervical corrections. The organization which trains doctors in this discipline is NUCCA. The US practitioners can be found by googling NUCCA. To my knowledge, there are only two or three of these doctors in Europe.

I would not let a chiropractor not trained by NUCCA perform upper cervical work. It is a job requiring delicate precision and specialized pre-treatment X-rays.

I have been using this therapy, when needed, for 3 decades. It was a life saver for me.

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:18 CDT

The Missed Point

By: Rabelais

The vast majority of periodontal problems are caused by bacteria. Stress may exacerbate the onset of the problems, but a bacteria free mouth will not have the causal factor.

A simple mouthwash and gargle of colloidal silver, after brushing and before bed each night has kept me out of the dentist's chair for a decade. It also kills the plaque causing bacteria, so bi-annual scrapings are a thing of the past... as is bad breath.

Obviously this will not correct jaw misalignments or tooth grinding, but gum disease, virus related sores and abscesses, etc., will become a thing of the past.

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:07 CDT

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