Don't try hiding the fact that you're emotionally stressed over a negative life event, because your dentist can most likely tell something's wrong by just looking in your mouth, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.

A 2005 study found that emotional factors played a significant role in the development of adult gum disease. Researchers discovered that the severity of gum disease increased with the number of negative life events experienced in a patient's previous 12-month period. A life event was defined as a negative incident that caused a change in the individual's usual activities.

"Marital or family problems, the death of a relative, serious personal illness, serious illness of a close relative, a major financial difficulty or a burglary all influence the severity of gum disease," says AGD spokesperson J. Michael Adame, DDS. "A patient's perception of a traumatic event is the most important factor in the progression and severity of gum disease."

"People who endure such negative occurrences tend to compromise their oral care," says Dr. Adame. "To prevent these problems from affecting your oral health, frequently brush and floss every day, use a mouthrinse and have your gums and teeth evaluated by your dentist."