THE AGE OF STRESS HELPING YOUR CHILD OVERCOME ANXIETY
It’s hard to imagine kids as anything but carefree, happy, and eager to explore the world around them. However, children experience stress just like adults do, which can severely impact their typically cheerful dispositions. Since April is National Stress Awareness Month, now is an opportune time to familiarize yourself with tools and information that can help you alleviate your child’s stress.
WHAT ARE THEIR STRESSORS?
Any number of everyday factors can lead to stress, and stress can plague anyone who feels overwhelmed. Toddlers and young children going to day care or school for the first time may experience separation anxiety due to being apart from their parents. Older kids and teenagers may feel mounting social and academic pressure. Even something as simple as overhearing loved ones arguing or seeing a sad news report can add to a child’s stress levels. When a kid is stressed, they will exhibit odd behavior and even undergo physical changes. Depending on your child’s age, watch for mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, headaches, trouble focusing, or withdrawal from the people around them. According to KidsHealth.org, younger children may also pick up habits like twirling their hair or sucking their thumb, while older kids may start to bully others, lie, or rebel. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS STRESSED?
HOW STRESS AFFECTS ORAL HEALTH April is National Stress Awareness Month. You probably already know that stress is bad for your general health, but did you know that it’s specifically bad for your oral health, too? If you are dealing with high levels of stress, pinpointing its exact cause and working to reduce it will have widespread health effects — on your weight, your relationships, and, yes, even on the health of your mouth! It has been well-documented that stress impacts what we eat. Study after study shows that stressed people are more likely to choose more calorically dense foods, including sweets. Stress also has a nasty habit of derailing the dental hygiene habits that help keep our teeth healthy — things like flossing and brushing. What’s more, stress depresses the immune system so people who lead stressful lives are more prone to periodontal disease over the long term. Stress has also been linked to bruxism, which is the clinical term for clenching or grinding one’s teeth while asleep. Aside from having the potential to drive your sleeping partner crazy, over the long-term, bruxism wears away at the protective enamel of your teeth, exposing the inner layers of your teeth. Bruxism can also cause things like jaw clicks and sensitive teeth. Stress is something we all have to deal with. The sooner you can nip it in the bud, the better off you will be. If you are living a chronically stressful lifestyle, in honor of National Stress Awareness Month, what is one thing you can do for yourself to help manage it? For most of us, reducing the stress in our lives takes time. If you are managing a high level of stress, it is more important than ever to attend to your oral health. Visit ATownDental.com to learn more or to schedule your appointment!
CAN I HELP REDUCE THEIR STRESS?
According to KidsHealth.org, good nutrition, proper rest, and healthy attention are great ways to help kids manage their stress. Set time aside each day to talk and spend time with your children; talking about worries will
reduce or relieve anxieties. If you know about an upcoming stressful situation, like a school exam or a health checkup, prepare your child by studying with them or talking to them about what to expect. Don’t stop here. For more tools and information regarding stress reduction in children, visit KidsHealth.org or contact your doctor.
2 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
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