Whether it’s a full calendar, the holiday season, a big life event, or a busy work schedule, it’s natural for stress to accumulate as your pace of life picks up. You might feel your shoulders tensing up, your thoughts racing, your heart pounding, and your jaw clenching, but have you ever noticed stress quietly weave its way into other areas of your oral health?
Your oral health is deeply connected to your overall health…the same hormones and inflammation that affect your mood and energy also impact what’s happening inside your mouth. Your saliva, gums, jaw, and the bacteria in your oral microbiome all respond to stress in ways that can make your mouth more vulnerable. Over time, these changes can show up as sensitivity, dry mouth, sores, and other subtle shifts in your smile.
By understanding how stress can show up in your smile (and learning how to care for both your mind and mouth during these stressful seasons), you can better protect your enamel, gums, and sense of calm…all at the same time.
how stress impacts your oral health
When you’re navigating a stressful season, a cascade of biological changes begins in your body. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline kick in, which can increase inflammation throughout your entire body. This quick increase can impact so many systems in your body, including your mouth.
- gum inflammation: elevated cortisol and adrenaline can impair your immune system, making it harder for your mouth to fend off bad bacteria. This often shows up as inflammation, redness, and tenderness in the gums.
- a shift in your oral microbiome: as harmful bacteria rise and good bacteria fall to the wayside, this can create an unpleasant shift in your oral microbiome. When the bad bacteria overtake the good, it creates an environment for plaque and sensitivity to take hold.
- reduced saliva flow: stress can slow saliva production, which is essential for rinsing away food particles and harmful acids. When saliva is low, it creates a perfect storm for bacteria to thrive and enamel to weaken (and for you to experience dry/cotton mouth, which we’ll expand on in the next section).
- physical tension: jaw clenching is a common side effect of stress, and a lot of us don’t even realize we’re doing it. Repeated tension in your jaw can lead to microscopic damage to your enamel, strain the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), cause headaches, and leave your muscles feeling sore.
Your mouth is full of delicate tissues, nerves, enamel, fluids, and living organisms that all work together to keep your entire body healthy. Stress can throw off the delicate balance in your mouth, altering saliva, bacteria, and tissue function. But understanding the connection between stress and oral health can help you identify early warning signs…and make an effort to restore balance before things get out of hand.
signs that your mouth might be stressed
Signs of stress can be subtle…a little bit of jaw tightness when you wake up, a mouth that’s unusually dry throughout the day, or a sore spot that doesn’t seem to go away. But paying attention to these small cues can help you protect your smile before stress takes a bigger toll. Here are just a few ways your mouth might be telling you that it’s feeling the pressure.
- teeth grinding: so many people grind and clench without realizing it, especially during sleep or long hours of focus. But over time, that friction can wear down your enamel and cause sensitivity. If you’re often waking up to morning jaw soreness, headaches that start in your temples, or sensitive teeth…those could be signs that you’re grinding your teeth without knowing it.
- TMJ: this is a little different from standard teeth grinding, which primarily affects your teeth and jaw muscles. TMJ issues involve the joint itself, which connects your jaw to your skull. TMJ and stress go hand-in-hand, making the joint more sensitive and reactive, causing discomfort that goes beyond enamel wear and sensitivity. If you’re experiencing clicking, popping, or a subtle “locking” sensation when you open and close your mouth, this could be a sign that stress is leading to TMJ issues.
- tooth sensitivity: even without obvious grinding, stress can still wear down enamel or make your teeth more vulnerable to acid exposure from foods, drinks, or even a dry mouth. This can lead to increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, a warning sign that your enamel might need some extra care (for example, from remineralizing products like Davids Hydroxi™ lineup).
- dry mouth: we mentioned in the previous section that stress can reduce saliva production, which is why a lot of people ask themselves, “do stress and anxiety cause dry mouth?” The answer is yes! As cortisol rises, saliva can decrease, leading to cotton mouth, bad breath, discomfort, sensitivity, and a heightened risk of tooth decay and gum irritation.
- mouth ulcers/sores: mouth ulcers and stress also go hand-in-hand, as a weakened immune system makes your mouth more prone to canker sores that have a hard time healing.
- gum issues: are you noticing more bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth? That could be a sign that stress is getting to your gums. Beyond redness and bleeding, long-term stress can even lead to early gum recession. If your gums feel tender, swell more easily, or appear to be pulling back from your teeth, it’s best to visit your dentist.
- bad breath: we’ve talked about how stress can shift the balance of bacteria in your mouth and reduce saliva flow, and this creates an environment where odor-causing bacteria thrive.
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changes in taste or coating on the tongue: When stress affects your saliva and oral bacteria, you might even notice a metallic taste, a white coating on your tongue, or a difference in your taste buds.
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, consider them gentle reminders that your body wants you to slow down, breathe, and take some time for yourself. While it’s hard to maintain self-care during stressful seasons, even tiny moments of care like unclenching your jaw or practicing mindfulness while you brush your teeth can make a meaningful difference over time.
daily oral care that builds resilience to stress
When life feels hectic and out of control, your oral care routine can act as a grounding habit that you can control. Small, consistent oral care habits not only protect your teeth and gums from stress-related issues…but they also have the power to create moments of calm in your busy days.
- hydrate all day: especially if stress is causing dry mouth, it’s important to drink water often throughout the day (versus larger amounts less often). This will help rinse out bacteria and keep your mouth comfortable.
- protect your teeth from grinding: are you noticing signs of teeth grinding? It might be time to get a nightguard or ask your dentist about other preventative options.
- practice mindfulness in the little moments: stressful seasons often don’t leave a ton of time for mindfulness, but it’s important to try to squeeze it in. Whether it’s a breathing exercise while you floss or a body scan to release tension while you brush your teeth, these small moments can be the difference between calm and chaos.
- brush twice daily: this one might sound like a given, but daily habits like brushing can fall to the wayside during stressful seasons. Make a promise to yourself to maintain your oral care routine, and take these moments to decompress. Notice the minty taste, the motion of your brush, and the sensation on your gums.
- floss once daily: even just a couple minutes of flossing can reduce plaque buildup and prevent gum irritation, both of which can be worsened by stress. Remember, brushing alone only reaches about 70% of your teeth, and we want to make sure that the remaining 30% gets the attention it needs.
- consider tongue scraping: using Davids stainless steel tongue scraper daily can remove bacteria and debris that contribute to bad breath and a coated tongue, which can worsen when stress reduces saliva. It’s a simple step that can help you refresh your mouth, freshen your breath, and maintain a healthy oral microbiome.
- consider gentle mouthwash and/or oil pulling: rinsing with Davids alcohol-free mouthwash or using Davids oil pulling oral rinse can help reduce harmful bacteria, soothe inflammation, and create a calming ritual at the start or end of your day. These practices give extra support when you’re stressed…and give your mouth another dose of remineralizing nano-hydroxyapatite.
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use gentle, irritation-free products: turn to Davids for your everyday oral care, especially during times of stress. Our products help you avoid potentially irritating ingredients like SLS, artificial colors, unnecessary preservatives, or harsh abrasives. More on that below!
It’s also important to schedule your 6-month dentist appointment to ensure you don’t miss these important check-ups during stressful times. Preventative care can catch early enamel wear, gum inflammation, and other stress-related oral issues to keep your mouth healthy and happy.
what makes Davids different?
Every product in our lineup is designed to support your oral and overall health. We use gentle, effective, nature-derived, and science-backed ingredients to bring you oral care that promotes calm, resilience, and long-term wellness. Here are just a few things that make our products perfect for your daily routine…and your stressful seasons.
We use nano-hydroxyapatite to remineralize enamel.
Nano-hydroxyapatite is a biocompatible material that replenishes essential minerals (calcium and phosphate). These minerals can be depleted from everyday wear and tear…and especially during stressful times. Unlike fluoride (which can sometimes negatively impact systems in your body when overused), nano-hydroxyapatite works by mimicking your tooth’s natural structure to strengthen and smooth enamel from the inside out.
Hydroxi™ is our proprietary blend of nano-hydroxyapatite with naturally sourced and derived ingredients. Our lab tests show that it outperforms leading sensitive toothpaste products by remineralizing damaged enamel and “plugging” exposed tubules (that lead to your tooth’s center nerve) most effectively. The result? Reduced sensitivity and stronger, healthier enamel…even during life’s most stressful moments.
We never use SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
SLS is a chemical foaming agent that can irritate soft tissue and trigger ulcers in sensitive mouths. By avoiding SLS, we’re able to minimize unnecessary irritation…one less source of inflammation when your body is already under stress!
We never use artificial flavors, colors, or harsh chemicals.
Reducing chemical load can benefit both your body and mind, especially during times of heightened stress. We use natural essential oils like peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, and anise extract to give our products a delicious flavor without any funky additives. You also won’t find any sparkly blue, red, or purple products in our lineup. Our hints of color come from natural sources, not chemicals.
Our ingredients are sourced and derived from nature.
This brings a level of grounding to your everyday oral care routine! As ingredients like activated charcoal work to lift surface stains, our premium mint oils can work to improve your mood, refresh your senses, and promote calm by gently stimulating your parasympathetic nervous system (the one responsible for resting and digesting).
Every product is sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free.
From ingredients to packaging, all of our products are sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free, so you can feel good about your brushing routine on every level. These little details can help turn a simple daily habit into a small, mindful moment that reduces stress and leaves you feeling proud.
stay a step ahead of stress
Life has a way of throwing a lot at you, but your oral care routine is a powerful tool to help you stay a step ahead of stress. By taking a few thoughtful minutes each day (with gentle products like ours), you’re investing in comfort, resilience, and overall well-being…a trio that can create a powerful line of defense against stress.
While they may seem small and insignificant, your oral care rituals have the power to make your mouth (and your mood) feel a little lighter, even in the most stressful times. With the holiday season around the corner, it’s the perfect time to stock up on gentle, naturally sourced and derived products for a cleaner, calmer oral care routine!
