Stress causes serious tooth diseases, studies show

Recent studies have revealed that stress, which is a major cause of many diseases, also causes tooth decay and periodontal diseases.

Professor Ercan Durmuş of Selçuk University's (SÜ) Faculty of Dentistry told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that society needs to prioritize personal oral hygiene for a healthy body. Explaining that mouth care should start at a very early age, Durmuş said there might be different reasons behind tooth decay, periodontal and joint diseases.

"People who experience chronic stress also experience dryness of the mouth. Therefore, the protective layer that protects teeth from decay does not form," Durmuş said. He underscored that the stress experienced by people between the ages of 18 and 20 is very important in terms of oral health. "Since parents do not place much importance on stress, they are usually too late to take precautions," he said, and claimed stress that is experienced between the ages of 12 and 20 will pave the way to papilla loss and serious periodontal diseases between the ages of 28 and 30.

"Children who are stressed withdraw and neglect their teeth and oral care. It is important to take the stress factor into consideration in young people who suffer from tooth, mouth or joint problems in order to offer a permanent treatment," Durmuş explained.

He said that exams and family pressure might cause stress in children and highlighted that parents should support their children, especially during adolescence and exam periods. Moreover, Durmuş said that clinical headaches and earaches in children as well as joint problems in the jaw lead to corrosion on the surface of the teeth, which is mostly caused by stress.