With the end of the school year quickly approaching, you’re probably cramming to study for final exams. Staring at textbooks for too long can strain your eyes and overwhelm your mind. Stress may cause headaches, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, poor dental habits, and gum inflammation. To help protect your body and dental health from the effects of stress, Dr. Locke offers these tips to help reduce your tension.
Stress Reduction Tips
- Exercise. Exercising helps relieve your frustration and relax your body. It also pumps up your adrenaline and improves your energy and concentration. If you feel overwhelmed, take a break from the books and go for a jog around campus.
- Take a bubble bath. When you get stressed, your muscles tense up. A warm bubble bath will help calm your mood and ease muscle cramps. Furthermore, dim the lights, burn a few candles, and listen to the soothing sounds of nature to create a relaxing bath therapy.
- Listen to music. Studies show that listening to music helps lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety, calm your pulse rate, stimulate your mind, and refocus your attention. Headphones can also help drown out background noise from loud roommates, graduation parties, and other distractions.
- Eat a proper diet. Many students munch on sugary snacks and caffeinated beverages to stay awake during all-nighters. These products contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Instead, Dr. Locke recommends sticking to a regular diet and healthy eating patterns to keep your body strong.
- Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Many students pull all-nighters to cram the night before their finals. However, your body needs adequate sleep to refresh your body and provide the energy you need to concentrate and work the next day.
- Receive TMJ therapy. Jaw, neck, head, and tooth pain will contribute to your stresses and distract from your studies. Dr. Locke is widely trained in TMJ therapy to reposition your jaw joints and alleviate tension.
- Smile. Smiling instantly releases endorphins to elevate your mood and maintain a positive attitude.
Dr. Locke can relieve dental stress, TMJ pain, and other tensions that are affecting your health. Contact our Waco dentist office at (254) 776-4888 to schedule an appointment before you head home for the summer. We welcome patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and the surrounding Central Texas area.