**Stress in orthodontics** is one of the important challenges that can have negative effects on the treatment process. Psychological pressures caused by appearance changes and concerns about treatment results may reduce the patient's cooperation with the doctor and delay the achievement of desired results. This condition can also aggravate the feeling of pain and discomfort. In this article, we will first examine **the effect of stress on orthodontic treatment**, then we will provide you with useful solutions to manage stress and overcome its negative effects. If you want to spend orthodontic treatment with a better experience, stay with us until the end. Negative effects of stress on orthodontic treatment When a person experiences stress, their body releases hormones such as cortisol, which can affect various physiological processes, including the immune system and tissue repair. Orthodontic treatment involves gradual changes in the position of the teeth, which requires the response of healthy bone and tissue. However, chronic stress can disrupt this process by weakening the immune system and reducing the body's natural ability to heal and adapt to changes. This means that patients under high stress face complications such as longer treatment periods, delays in treatment progress, or even problems with orthodontic adjustments. (quoted from ODONTO) In the following, we describe the most important negative effects of stress in orthodontics. ### grinding teeth Teeth grinding or grinding teeth is a behavior that may occur unconsciously during stress, anger or worry. This habit damages the teeth and even the orthodontic device by putting extra pressure on the teeth and jaw system. Breaking brackets, wires, displacement and tilting of teeth and disruption of the treatment process are among the effects of grinding teeth caused by stress in orthodontics. In other words, the extra pressure caused by grinding teeth makes the efforts of the orthodontic doctor ineffective to correct the position of the teeth and the need for frequent adjustments prolongs the treatment period. ### Creating mouth sores Stress, with its effect on the immune system and the normal functioning of the body, increases the possibility of creating various types of ulcers in the oral environment. People who are under mental pressure and stress during orthodontics may even unintentionally bite their tongue and the inner tissue of their mouth. These wounds, which are generally painful, make it more difficult for a person to tolerate the orthodontic device and interfere with eating, brushing and speaking. ### Prolonging the repair process Another issue related to the impact of stress on orthodontic treatment is the slowing down of the healing process in the body. Stress weakens the body's immune system and delays the healing of wounds and oral inflammations. This issue can prolong the healing process in case of orthodontic-related surgeries or mouth sores and gingivitis. ### Decreasing attention to oral hygiene Having stress leads a person to wrong habits and wrong behaviors that can have a negative impact on oral health. For example, stressed and anxious people forget to brush their teeth and develop unhealthy habits such as nail biting. Such behaviors harm the health of the gums, teeth and orthodontic apparatus and make the need for additional dental treatments to repair damaged teeth and treat gum problems inevitable. In fact, stress and neglect of oral hygiene will make the orthodontic treatment process longer and more complicated. ### Inclination to unhealthy foods Patients who experience a lot of stress may change their eating habits and become more interested in junk or sugary foods. This issue increases the possibility of tooth decay and gum inflammation and infection, and endangers oral and dental health, which results in a negative impact on the dental orthodontic treatment process. ### Decreasing the cooperation of the patient with the orthodontist From a psychological point of view, stress reduces the patient's ability to cooperate with the orthodontic specialist. Orthodontic treatment requires strict compliance with the orthodontist's instructions, such as using aligners for certain hours a day, taking care of braces in permanent orthodontics, visiting regularly for examinations and using retainers after treatment. Stress can cause the patient to forget or reduce motivation and make it more difficult for him to follow these instructions, which ultimately jeopardizes the effectiveness of the treatment. The best ways to deal with stress during orthodontics If you want to prevent **the effect of stress on orthodontic treatment** and spend your treatment period without challenges and feeling better, try the following strategies to keep calm and deal with stress in orthodontics. ### Increasing information and awareness about orthodontics Stress and worry often arise due to ignorance of the situation ahead. To overcome this feeling, try to get detailed information about orthodontic methods and the treatment process by reading reliable dental sources and viewing photos and videos. You can also ask your questions and doubts when visiting an orthodontic specialist so that your concerns are resolved and you are less stressed. ### Careful in choosing an orthodontic specialist It is very important to see an experienced and skilled specialist for orthodontics. This assures you that your jaw and teeth problem is correctly diagnosed and the best treatment plan is planned and implemented for you. An experienced orthodontist can manage possible problems in the treatment process and accelerate the process of moving teeth by providing useful solutions. This will greatly reduce your anxiety and stress. ### Follow the instructions Take the orthodontist's recommendations and instructions seriously and follow them carefully. Taking care of your teeth and orthodontic device, regular use of toothbrush and dental floss, following a diet, recognizing abnormal symptoms, taking appropriate action when braces are damaged, visiting the dentist regularly and following up on the treatment procedures, will guarantee a quick recovery and prevent oral problems and keep you away from worry and stress. ### Talking to people who have experience in orthodontic treatment Socialize with people who have already undergone orthodontic treatment. Hearing other people's experience about the treatment process, feeling of pain and discomfort, expected and achieved results, duration of treatment and similar things will help you feel less worried and more relaxed. In these conversations, you will realize that your stress is normal and of course temporary. You will also be better able to manage stress by using the information and useful tips you get. ### doing sports activity One of the best ways to deal with stress during orthodontics is to exercise and be physically active. Light sports activities such as walking, cycling or yoga, by affecting the nervous system and increasing the release of endorphins, improve your mental and physical state and give you a sense of freshness and relaxation. ### Perform relaxation exercises In order to feel more comfortable during orthodontic treatment and avoid negative emotions, don't forget relaxation exercises such as deep breathing, yoga and meditation. These exercises will help you better manage your negative thoughts and feelings. ### Watching movies and reading books Activities like watching movies and reading books calm your mind and reduce your anxiety. Because while performing these activities, your mind is freed from stress and problems, and you feel better. ### Adequate sleep and rest Adequate rest and quality sleep have a significant effect on reducing stress. Your body repairs and restores lost energy during sleep and rest, so when you sleep well, you will have more energy and less stress the next day. ### drinking soothing teas Herbal teas are a natural and simple solution to relax and control stress. Teas such as ginger, lemon tea, thyme and mint with soothing and calming properties are useful for increasing the feeling of relaxation and comfort during orthodontic treatment. ### Drug use If your stress and anxiety is so high that you are not able to reduce and control it with the mentioned methods, it is recommended to consult your dentist to temporarily prescribe an anti-stress or sedative drug for you if needed. In some cases, the pain and pressure caused by orthodontics can be reduced by taking painkillers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Note that you should never take medication to reduce stress without consulting a doctor. Does continuous stress in orthodontics affect the length of treatment? yes Continuous stress and anxiety can have a significant impact on the length of orthodontic treatment. Long-term stress affects the immune and nervous system and delays the repair and recovery of oral problems. Also, when a person is under stress, habits such as teeth grinding, nail biting, neglecting oral hygiene and reducing cooperation with the orthodontist are formed in him. The set of these effects disturbs the movement and displacement of teeth towards the correct position and makes orthodontic treatment more difficult and longer. In this article, we tried to explain **the effect of stress on orthodontic treatment** in a simple way. Considering that stress can disrupt the orthodontic treatment process and your daily life, it is very important to help improve your quality of life and facilitate the orthodontic treatment process by managing stress and following strategies to deal with it. For this reason, it is recommended to consult an experienced orthodontic specialist to provide you with the best solutions.