THE STRESS CONNECTION
How Stress Affects the Health of Your Teeth
Stress affects us in many different ways, both physically and emotionally, and it can also take a significant toll on the health of our teeth. When you’re stressed, your muscles respond. This includes the muscles in your head, neck, and jaw. The muscles tense up, and this can lead to clenching or grinding, otherwise known as bruxism. In many cases, bruxism occurs without you knowing 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 manifest themselves in several ways. You may wake up with a headache, tension in your neck and shoulders, 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 wears down your enamel and typically leads to tooth sensitivity if not addressed early on.
If you are dealing with tension in your jaw, neck, and shoulders, there are a couple of methods you can try to ease the strain. 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. Neck Massage: Request a massage specifically for your neck and shoulders. This will not only ease your overall stress, it will help loosen the muscles that cause your jaw to tighten, leading to clenching and grinding. If these steps don’t work, or if you still 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.
HAVE A LAUGH!
ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BREADCRUMBS
Spring is the height of asparagus season. This dish, which features the crunch of breadcrumbs and a refreshing splash of lemon, is the perfect way to highlight the natural flavors of the vegetable without overwhelming them.
INGREDIENTS
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2 pounds asparagus
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1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
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Kosher salt
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2 teaspoons lemon zest
Freshly ground pepper
Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)
2 garlic cloves, minced DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
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