Holidays can be stressful, and Thanksgiving is no exception. It’s supposed to be a day to feel grateful for your blessings, but cooking the perfect turkey, traveling with the kids, hosting the family dinner — all of it can stress even the calmest soul.

And as you know, stress can cause you to grinding your teeth. If you’ll be dealing with one or more Thanksgiving stressors this year, you might want to add a SleepRight dental guard to your store shopping list. Here’s a list of the common issues that trigger holiday stress and how to deal with them:

  1. Family tension: Not all families get along, unfortunately. Relationships get strained from disagreements and divorce, but don’t let high emotions get you down. If things get tense, step outside for some fresh air, help wash dishes or play with the kids.
  2. Cooking for a large group: Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is a lot of work, and pressure. Not everything will go according to plan, and that turkey may not be cooked to perfection. Plan ahead, ask for help and don’t hold yourself to a too-high standard. No one is perfect!
  3. Travel Stress: Traveling during Thanksgiving is not for the faint of heart. There are more cars on the road than any other time of year, and the airport is jam-packed with long security lines. Plan ahead. By leaving a day early, you can beat a lot of the crowd on the road and in the airports. Pack some headphones for the airport to de-stress or, if you’re driving, stop and take breaks often.
  4. Feeling sad: Many people feel sad or lonely around major holidays. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one or you are dreading seeing a critical relative. Acknowledge your feelings and take care of yourself. A warm bubble bath or long walk can do wonders to lift your spirits. Avoid things that make you sad and make a list of reasons to be thankful.

If holiday stressors trigger you to grind your teeth at night, wear a SleepRight dental guard at night to protect your smile. An over-the-counter dental guard won’t help you make the perfect turkey, and it won’t help when your Grandma Linda asks why you’re still single, but it will protect your teeth from the damaging effects of bruxism, or grinding your teeth at night. Visit www.sleepright.com to find a SleepRight dental guard for you. SleepRight wishes you a happy, stress-free Thanksgiving!