Stress Related Oral Disorders - A Review

Abstract

The oral mucosa is highly reactive to psychological influences, and in some cases oral diseases may be a direct expression of emotions or conflicts, while in other instances, lesions of oral mucosa may be the indirect result of an emotional problem in terms of fundamental psychologic theory, the oral tissue have considerable significance. The mouth is directly or symbolically related to the major human instincts, passions and is charged with a high psychological potential. The basic concept in psychosomatic medicine was first introduced clearly by SIGMOND FREUD, who used the term "conversion hysteria" in describing the reaction in which emotional conflicts are converted bodily or somatic symptoms. When an emotion cannot be expressed normally or consciously, the individual may resolve this frustration by overt aggressive acts and gain relief in this manner however if the individual has built up tension that he does not relieve by "blowing off stream", the tension may be expressed subconsciously as a somatic symptom. However, relatively few studies have been carried out on the relationship of emotional factors to diseases of the oral mucosa. So, here is an article which tries to briefly review the psychosomatic (stress related) disorders related to the oral cavity.

Keywords

• Psychosomatic Disorders
• Oral Cavity.