Did you know working long hours can have a negative impact on the health of your teeth and gums? Oral health might be the last thing on your mind if you’re working late, but work-related habits associated with long hours can take a toll on your oral health.
Spending too much time at work can cause stress, and lead some people to neglect their oral healthcare altogether. Like your overall health, dental hygiene requires a consistent effort to be effective. Discover the impact spending too much time at work can have on your mouth and find out how to prevent these problems from arising, plus the best places to seek treatment for dental issues if and when they do arise.
The relationship between work-life balance and oral health
An imbalance between your work and personal life can impact your oral health in a few ways. For one, stress from being overworked can cause gum disease or tooth decay. According to the National Institute of Health, the body releases cortisol when it’s under pressure. This can cause the immune system to weaken and be less able to fight off infections, including those that arise in the mouth. Moreover, stress may cause you to grind your teeth and wear away at the enamel, cracking them in some cases.
Additionally, working long hours can distract you from properly taking care of your teeth. You might forget to floss and brush regularly or simply ignore your oral health needs if you’re overtired and overworked. Poor diet choices, which are often easy to grab on the go for an overworked person in search of quick sustenance, may also harm your oral health. A diet lacking in nutrients may make it more difficult for tissues in your mouth to resist infection, according to Mouth Healthy.
Stress and oral health
Stress may seem like something that solely impacts your mental health, but it can also have an impact on your oral health. When you’re stressed, there’s an increased risk of getting gum disease. As mentioned previously, stress can weaken the immune system and lower your body’s ability to fight off bacteria associated with gum disease. Stress can also reduce the amount of saliva your body produces and lead to dry mouth, furthering your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Canker sores are another painful dental condition that can arise if you’re too stressed. These small, painful ulcers inside the mouth are often triggered by a lack of sleep, stress or a poor diet, all of which can be a result of being overworked.
The effects of teeth grinding
Grinding your teeth may also be a result of work-related stress. Bruxism, which Johns Hopkins describes as a condition where you unconsciously clench or grind your teeth, may develop in those who overwork themselves. This grinding can lead to sensitivity and pain in the mouth should teeth crack.
The impact of poor diet choices
If you’re spending too much time at work, preparing a balanced meal might be the last thing on your mind when you finally get to leave for the day. That’s why people with an improper work-life balance sometimes don’t have the best diet.
Instead of cooking for themselves, they’ll grab something on the go that’s less than healthy. This can lead to a diet that is high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. Consuming foods with high levels of these ingredients can negatively impact oral health in several ways.
Firstly, foods that are overly sugary or acidic cause tooth decay, according to Action on Sugar. When the bacteria in the mouth feed on those sugars, they produce an acid that erodes the enamel on your teeth and ultimately leads to cavities. Foods that are high in sugars and refined carbohydrates can also increase your risk of gum disease, which is caused by the buildup of plaque. Too much plaque can cause inflamed gums that bleed and eventually recede. What’s more, these kinds of foods can also cause bad breath.
Another impact of a poor diet that may seem obviously negative toward your overall health is not getting the proper nutrients. But nutrient deficiencies may impact your teeth just as much as they do your physical and mental health. A lack of vitamins and minerals can lead to bleeding gums and even tooth loss in the worst cases.
Excessive coffee drinking
Coffee helps you stay awake and focused if you’re working long hours. But too much coffee may cause issues with your oral health including staining, bad breath and tooth decay.
The acid in coffee can erode the enamel on teeth. Without enamel, teeth may feel overly sensitive or appear discolored. Over time, losing the enamel on your teeth can lead to tooth decay. Another oral-related issue coffee can cause is dry mouth. When you’re not producing enough saliva, your mouth can’t neutralize acids. This is yet another factor that can lead to tooth decay or gum disease.
Dehydration and oral health
Staying hydrated can also become a challenge when you work for long periods of time. Dehydration is bad for your body, but it can also negatively impact your oral health in several ways including dry mouth, which can lead to bigger problems like mouth infections, tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, cracked lips and mouth sores may arise if you’re not properly hydrated, and teeth become more sensitive over time if you’re not getting enough fluids and your gums start to recede.
Insufficient oral hygiene routine
Working for long periods can also cause you to neglect your oral health. Putting brushing, flossing and regular dentist visits aside can have dastardly effects on your teeth including plaque buildup, gum disease and tooth decay.
Missed dental visits
If you’re working many hours or traveling for work and skipping out on regular dentist visits, you might miss out on a bigger issue you didn’t know you had. By going to the dentist regularly, you’ll stay more aware of your overall oral health and catch things like cavities, gum disease and tooth decay before they become major problems that require more severe care.
Sleep deprivation
Poor oral health can cause a lack of sleep, which may lead to more issues down the road. Work-related stress can also cause sleep deprivation, which may lead to grinding of the teeth or a lowered immune system less equipped to deal with oral health problems. Getting enough sleep can combat these issues.
Smoking and alcohol consumption
Stress sometimes leads people to smoke or consume alcohol, but doing so can cause big problems with your oral health. Like coffee, smoking and alcohol can stain teeth and make them appear yellow or brown. Moreover, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption may cause gum disease, tooth decay, or in the most serious cases, oral cancer, which can be potentially life-threatening.
How to maintain good oral health despite long working hours
Even on days when you’re traveling on business or working for long hours, there are several ways you can maintain good oral health. Stay hydrated and remember to take breaks throughout the day, whether to consume a healthy snack or simply step away from work for a moment.
Also, schedule and stay on top of regular dentist visits so you know where your oral health stands. Avoid smoking and drinking, as they can have negative and sometimes severe impacts on your mouth. Overall, make your oral health a priority. Small steps daily can prevent big steps later.