Does Stress Negatively Impact a Child’s Oral Health?

If you think adults are the only people to experience stress, guess again. Children often have many triggers that can lead to feelings of anxiety that manifest themselves emotionally, mentally, and physically. Whether caused by school, peer pressure, a broken family, or even a global pandemic, how a child deals with these types of situations are often understood when a pediatric dentist in Coppell examines their teeth and gums. If the correlation between stress and oral health doesn’t make sense right now, read on to find out what kind of impact these tension-filled scenarios can have on your child’s smile.

How to Know if Your Child is Stressed

When you feel stressed, you may scream into a pillow, tug at your hair, or even go for a drive to decompress, but children often act much differently. Some symptoms you may expect, yet others may be new to you as a parent. While each child is different, some signs you can look for if you suspect your kid is feeling stressed include:

• Increased headaches or stomach aches
• Lying or being defiant
• Bullying
• Irritable or moody
• Avoiding friends to spend time with new individuals
• Changes in eating habits
• Sleeping much less
• Unhealthy habits

The Impact Stress Can Have on Their Oral Health

Anytime a big event occurs in a child’s life, most especially one that has a negative impact on them or their family (i.e. divorce of parents, moving away from friends, death of a loved one, financial hardships), this can cause a child to forgo their oral hygiene habits. As a result, they can develop tooth decay, gum disease, and other more serious dental problems. In many cases, some children have even regressed to thumb-sucking, teeth grinding, or other coping mechanisms.

When a child begins to experience issues with their teeth and gums as a result of stress, it can lead to increased pain and more complex dental procedures if left untreated over time. As a parent, although you may be dealing with a stressful time in your life, you need to take note of how it’s affecting your child. If their oral health is no longer in good condition, it could mean additional time and money spent on dental fillings, serious infections (i.e. abscess), or even tooth extractions.

If treatment is not provided in a timely manner, your child can grow up with a poorly aligned bite and additional issues that will further impact their self-esteem and ability to interact with others. In turn, you can expect their stress levels to rise and confidence to decrease.

What Parents Can Do to Help

No one wants to see their children struggle or feel negatively impacted by the changes going on in their life. Unfortunately, life isn’t always fair, so as a parent, you must remain vigilant in keeping an eye on the various signs and symptoms that your child may be stressed. Avoiding it will only make it worse, not only for you but more so, your child.

To help your little one cope with their anxiety and improve their mental, emotional, and physical health, try the following tips:

• Schedule a visit for them to see a doctor and a pediatric dentist in Coppell.
• Make sure they are getting plenty of rest and eating a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
• Spend quality time with your children. Don’t let technology, work, or other distractions keep you from making time for your little one.
• Ask for help from a mental health professional.
• Talk to your child. Find out what is causing their stress and help them find ways to handle the situation.

Life isn’t always easy, especially for children. When situations arise that cause your child to become anxious, worried, or fearful, make sure they know you are available to talk and are there to walk them through the difficult times. By doing this, you not only help to improve their mental wellbeing but their oral health as well.

About the Author  
Is your child feeling the stress of the current pandemic? Are they concerned about school? Dr. Melissa Rozas is a pediatric dentist in Coppell, TX, who understands the toll anxiety can take on a child’s mental, emotional, and physical health. She and her team work hard to help young kids improve their oral health while assisting parents in finding ways to help their little one relax and de-stress. Dr. Rozas’ experience and knowledge on the topic is evident from the  Doctor of Dental Surgery degree she received at the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston as well as the pediatric dental residency she completed at UT/Herman. Contact us at (972) 393-9779 if you believe your child’s stress is negatively impacting their oral health. We’re here to help you and your little one in this process.