HOW STRESS CAN IMPACT THE HEALTH OF YOUR TEETH The Stress Connection
Neck massage: Request a massage specifically for your neck and shoulders. This will not only help to ease your stress overall, but it will help loosen the muscles that cause your jaw to tighten, leading to clenching or grinding. If these steps do not work — or you find the aches or pains in your jaw and neck difficult to manage — let us know. We can help you determine the next steps to take to reduce discomfort and restore your peace of mind.
Stress manifests in many different ways. It affects us physically and emotionally, and it can also take a significant toll on the health of our teeth.
Avocado and Cucumber COLD SOUP Ingredients • Olive oil • 2 medium ripe avocados, halved • 1 large cucumber, halved • 6 stalks spring onions • 1 jalapeno • 1 lemon, juiced • ½ cup cold water • 1 clove garlic • ¾ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon black pepper Instructions 1. Preheat grill tomedium-high. 2. Coat halved avocados with lemon juice to avoid browning. Brush olive oil over avocados, cucumber, spring onions, and jalapeno. Oil grill while hot. 3. Grill vegetables until everything is grilled or slightly charred. Once grilled, remove and place on platter to cool. 4. Chop grilled veggies and puree with lemon juice, cold water, garlic, salt, and black pepper. 5. Once smooth, portion soup into bowls and refrigerate to cool before serving. 6. Garnish with toasted cubed bread, avocados, spring onions, chives, lemon zest, or a drizzle of olive oil, if desired. When you experience stress, your muscles respond. This includes the muscles in your head, neck, and jaw. The muscles tense up, and this, in turn, can lead to clenching or grinding, otherwise known as bruxism. In many cases, bruxism occurs without you even realizing it. While most instances of bruxism occur during sleep, many people clench their jaw during the day as well. They may do it as they work, run errands, or perform any number of day-to-day activities. The symptoms of bruxism can take several forms. You may wake up with a headache, with tension in your neck and shoulders, or with tension in your jaw— or all of the above. You may also experience discomfort in your teeth, particularly if you are grinding. Over time, this will wear down your enamel and typically leads to tooth sensitivity if not addressed. If you are dealing with tension throughout your jaw, neck, and shoulders, there initial steps you can take to ease that tension. Here are two examples: Jaw exercise: Open your mouth as wide as you can without causing any discomfort. With your mouth open, touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your front upper teeth. Hold for five seconds and repeat several times.
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