April is Stress Awareness Month. Stress has a negative effect on your health – including your oral health. As your dentist, we want to help protect your smile from stress. 

If you need to make an appointment to see us, call Rod Eccles, DDS at 317-682-0884. In the meantime, check out our tips for lessening the impact of stress on your smile:

  • Don’t Stop Brushing and Flossing – Stress can disrupt daily routines. But don’t let it keep you from brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Skipping these activities can cause cavities and gum disease. Those problems can then turn into bigger – and more stressful – problems. If you haven’t seen us for a while or haven’t been keeping up with your oral hygiene, schedule an exam and cleaning. 
  • Increase Your Water Intake – Stress often dries out your mouth. A shortage of saliva can lead to dental problems, including bad breath and cavities. Drinking plenty of water will help. So will chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free mints. For an extra dose of anti-cavity power, choose products that contain xylitol. 
  • Find Strategies to Reduce Stress – Instead of just reacting to stress and what it does to your mouth, check out this video for some smart stress-fighting strategies. 
  • Stay on Top of Your Gum Health – When you’re under stress, your body has a harder time fighting infection. That includes infection in your gums. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth and bone loss. If you notice signs of disease like tender or bleeding gums, call us ASAP. We’ll get rid of the infection with a deep-cleaning treatment. 
  • Use a Mouthguard to Stop Teeth Grinding – Some effects of stress are easy to notice. Others aren’t. That includes teeth grinding, which often happens at night while you sleep. Dr. Eccles can fit you for a custom-mouthguard that will stop the grinding. This protects your teeth from damage like chips and cracks. It also relieves jaw pain and can lessen the number and severity of headaches. 

We hope you’ll never feel stressed about finances when you visit our Plainfield, IN office. One way to lessen that stress is by joining our Smile Care Club. You’ll make low monthly payments to cover the cost of exams and cleanings and receive discounts on other services. 

To schedule an appointment with Rod Eccles, DDS, call us today at 317-682-0884 or schedule conveniently online. Let us help protect your smile from stress!