Association Between Mental Health Status and Periodontitis Among Probable Bruxers

Stress is related to emotional and physiological reactions when there is a lifetime event conflict that exceeds the individual's ability to deal effectively with the situation.

Psychological stress is generally recognized as a potential cofactor in the pathogenesis of infectious disease. It can trigger immune responses that favor the occurrence or exacerbation of changes in the oral cavity, such as periodontitis. It can directly impair the periodontal status through various biological mechanisms: variation in the gingival fluid, production of interleukin IL1, IL-6, reduction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and phagocytosis, and decreased lymphocyte production and antibody production, as well as through changes in behavior related to health, such as oral hygiene, smoking habit and diet.

Stress evokes emotional and physiologic reactions and is an important modifiable risk factor for both mental and physical illnesses.

Periodontitis is characterized by progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus causing loss of support which manifests through clinical attachment loss (CAL), radiographically assessed alveolar bone loss, presence of periodontal pocket and gingival bleeding.

Based on the ecologic plaque hypothesis, periodontal diseases result from environmental changes to the oral habitat. Marsh considers that the selection of ''pathogenic'' bacteria is directly coupled to changes in the environment.