Do you ever feel like circumstances are spinning out of your control? You’re not the only one. If there’s one thing we all have in common fairly often, it’s that stressful situations can occupy our minds and sap our energy. Not only that, stress can actually compromise your health. If you are stressed, it’s more likely that you’ll grind your teeth during sleep. While this bit of information has been around for a while, a recent study shed light on new piece of the teeth-grinding puzzle.
The article published in journal Head and Face Medicine shows that some ways of coping with stress can be healthier for your teeth and jaw than others. Those people who deal with stress by attempting to ignore their problems or internalize them are at higher risk for teeth grinding, also called bruxism. The study found that heavy grinders often used what were termed “negative” coping methods, like ignoring the causes of stress instead of working through problems directly.
If you’re experiencing stress, look over the following suggestions and see what you could do to improve your mental and emotional health:
- Get a good night’s sleep–being fully rested does amazing things for your clarity of thought and state of mind.
- Exercise–whether it’s outdoors or at the gym, exercise eases anxiety and releases mood-enhancing endorphins.
- Eat a healthy and varied diet–make sure meals include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Laugh–you’ve heard the saying that goes “laughter is the best medicine.” That’s absolutely true when you’re dealing with stress! Make sure that you’re never too busy to enjoy the company of friends and family who make you laugh.
- Let it out–internalized stress doesn’t disappear, it only multiplies. If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect, a professional therapist can help you work through it.
Don’t let stress get you down. Take charge of your health and well-being by taking care of yourself. Your teeth will thank you!