Being constantly stressed has a lot of negative repercussions in our body, our teeth, believe it or not, are also affected by our hectic life.

Recently actress Demi Moore, made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and she went on to explain that she had sheared off her front teeth, both of them, because of stress.

“Stress over a long period of time, or what is considered chronic stress can damage and loosen your teeth”, explained Dr. Simon Flikier from the Flikier Dental Institute in Costa Rica.

Bruxism (involuntary teeth grinding or jaw clenching) can worsen when you are suffering from a lot of stress; while according to the Journal of Periodontology, research has shown that “Stress and depression may be associated with periodontal destruction through behavioral and physiologic mechanisms”; this study proved that people that are depressed or under a lot of stress tend to neglect their oral care with the respective consequences to your mouth’s health; stress can also affect a patient’s immune system and this could lead to inflammation of the gums, causing periodontal disease (gum disease).

“With the responsibilities we have today it is very difficult to have a stress–free life, but we can develop healthy habits that can help us counteract the effects of stress in our teeth and body in general, it is no secret, physical activity and eating right will help our body properly face the day to day stress, when it comes to our teeth, brushing and flossing are a must, a visit to the dentist at least twice a year and staying alert of any changes or symptoms you may be suffering is very important, tooth loss doesn’t happen from one day to the next, which is why visits to the dentist every six months are very important”, advised Dr. Flikier.

If you can’t get rid of stress then make sure to take good care of yourself, prevention is very important when it comes to your health, getting regular check-ups will, in the long term, save you money, pick a dentist that will do a complete check-up of your oral health and not just focus on the present problem.

In Costa Rica, dental care is cheaper than in the United States, so taking a vacation in this wellness destination can do wonders for your overall health, bring down your stress levels enjoying the natural beauty of the country, and make time for your dental checkup. The Flikier Dental Institute has excellent professionals that can provide the necessary care at affordable prices.