5 Ways Your Mouth Says You're Stressed

Your teeth and gums say a lot about the state of your mental health. And guess what? Your dentist can tell.

- Sasha Gonzales

When Jessica Chia visited the dentist for her annual check-up, she was surprised when he asked if she was experiencing a stressful time at home or at work. He pointed out that she had a couple of ulcers on her tongue and observed that she had probably been unconsciously grinding her teeth during the night.

“He was right. I was experiencing a great deal of stress at work at the time,” the 38-year-old executive shares. “My dentist said he could tell I wasn’t coping very well, just by looking in my mouth.”

Stress and anxiety do not just present as fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, or muscle tension. Very often, they can show up as a variety of oral health problems, too, from dry mouth and gum disease to jaw pain.

“If we notice these symptoms on examining a patient’s mouth, we may ask the patient a few questions to figure out the possible causes because the symptoms are multifactorial and may be smoking or diet-related, or due to poor oral hygiene,” says Dr Sherina Daryanani, dental surgeon and founder of Teeth @ Tiong Bahru Dental Clinic.

“We may also ask what’s happening in her life, if the symptoms are ongoing, and so on, to determine if stress is the culprit.”

If your dentist notices any of these five problems during an oral examination, it’s time to get serious about managing the stress in your life.

ORAL LESIONS