I learned, as many of us do, from errors. I cared for others, often neglecting myself. When Covid came, the phrase “put your mask on first before you can assist someone else,” became a reality.

As women, we must be aware of the cycle of imbalance, such as pleasing others while denying our goals and dreams. This often results in stress and burnout; however, we are reminded to put OUR mask on first before we can help others.

Let’s look at stress as the body’s natural reaction to any demand or challenge. Stress can be pleasant or can cause fear and anxiety. At any rate, stress affects our adrenal glands affecting our emotional, physical and mental state. The exhaustion caused by prolonged and excess stress causes our organs to weep tears that our eyes don’t shed…BUT, setbacks are not a failure!

We have all heard of cortisol, the stress hormone. It can cause issues in the mouth when not managed, such as Inflammation (swelling of the gums), and deep pockets (spaces between tooth, bone, and gums) trapping food. So, the gums may be the first place the body shows stress on the adrenal gland resulting in slow healing, which can affect all systems in the body.  

These are a few tips to reduce chronic stress and heal the mouth and body:

• Find something you love to do and Do IT Regularly
• Exercise and increase physical movement
• Increase your water intake
• Practice mindful presence (meditation and stillness)
• Journal, paint, dance. Whatever you enjoy.
• Create a wind down routine; unplug devices, dim lights, stretch, and take deep breaths
• Sleep 6 hours
• See your dental provider more often if you have high stress

Move from: To DO to DONE!