We hope this year has been kind to you, and you’ve been able to stress less. However, sometimes in our lives, stressful situations occur, and there’s nothing we can do about it except cope. One of the strangest things about our amazing human body is that it will show signs of stress in unusual ways. You might not even think stress would ever be the cause of your discomfort, but it could be totally true.
Take a little trip with your holistic Wilmington dentist down the path of weird ways your body is telling you to stop the stress!
It only seems appropriate your Wilmington holistic dentist had to start the list with this one. We all know that stress is on the rise in our country, more than ever, but did you know that it could be stressing out your smile too?
The thing is — when we’re stressed, we tend to clench our jaws or grind our teeth, and sometimes you have no clue you’re evening doing it. It might even be occurring during the night while you’re sound asleep. You wake up in the morning, and you have a headache and jaw pain. What do you do? Pop a pill or two and go about your day? Forget about it? The stress is doing more damage than you think. Aside from the unwanted discomfort, you can chip your teeth or cause additional damage. (Tip: If you struggle with grinding or bruxism, talk to your Wilmington holistic dentist about the benefits of a mouth guard or night guard.)
As if stress itself wasn’t stressful enough, how about hair loss? When you start shedding more than your pets, there might be an underlying issue. Excessive stress has been linked to:
– Telogen effluvium – This condition causes your hair to come out just from the simple, everyday act of cleansing or brushing.
– Trichotillomania – This condition causes people to pull out their hair when they’re feeling stressed.
– Alopecia – This condition causes your body’s immune system to attack your hair follicles resulting in hair loss.
Some people experience excess stress in the form of tummy troubles. Cramping or the frequent urge to go could be your body telling you it needs some help. This is because stress can be an anxiety trigger where digestion issues can develop frequently and quickly. Your body goes into a “flight or fight” mode affecting how your muscles contract and how your body digests food.
If you’re experiencing any of these signs or have been feeling more stressed than usual lately, it’s always a good idea to call your doctor. If you’re one of the unlucky folks experience tooth discomfort or grinding, you should talk to your holistic dentist in Wilmington. We can help relieve your pain and stress. Talk to us today about scheduling an appointment at All About Smiles.
It all adds up to better health, smile, body, and spirit!