Chandler Dentist Discusses Stress Relief for Oral and Overall Health

Living with excessive levels of stress can have a detrimental effect on more than just your attitude. The heightened sense of alertness and the habits that can often manifest themselves during times of stress can prove devastating to your oral health as well as your physical wellbeing. The human stress reaction was meant to increase your awareness and shorten your reaction time to defend against natural predators. These days, you are less likely to randomly run into a wild animal; however, the stress factors of everyday life can make you feel like you are constantly under attack, triggering the stress response and straining your mind and body. To help you protect your oral and physical health, Chandler dentist, Dr. Mark Arooni, offers these tips for reducing the damaging effects of stress.

Tips for a More Relaxed You

• Exercise—Most people agree that they feel more relaxed, more focus, and more optimistic after a good workout. In fact, exercising is one of the most effective stress relievers. The physical activity encourages your body to produce natural feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins, generating the euphoric feeling often referred to as runner’s high. Staying in shape also helps you feel more confident, lowering some of the negative emotional effects of stress and anxiety.
• Breathe—Proper breathing is necessary to properly oxygenate your blood and the organs that it supplies, typically brining an instant sense of calm. When you feel especially stressed, take a moment to close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Also, ensuring that your posture is straight instead of slouched can help improve your breathing.
• Relax—In today’s hectic world, finding time to do nothing can seem like quite a frivolous challenge. Sometimes, however, frivolity is exactly what you need. Constantly working, thinking about work, preparing to work, and stressing over work can destroy your peace of mind, making it impossible for you to relax enough to allow your mind and body to decompress.  Try to find a few moments every day to sit and do nothing that involves strenuous activity and/or thinking, such as reading a book, doodling, or listening to soft music.

Maintain Your Oral Health with Chandler Dentist

If you’d like to learn more about how you can protect your smile by improving your everyday habits, then schedule an appointment with your Chandler dentist by calling 480-855-1200. Located in the 85224 area, Lakeview Dental Care proudly serves patients from Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, and all surrounding communities.

By Mark Arooni DDS