Is Stress Causing Me To Grind My Teeth?

Did you know that stress can cause you to grind your teeth, a condition officially known as bruxism?

As the pandemic continues and life gets overwhelming, dentists are seeing an increase in stress-related dental conditions. You may not know it, but stress can cause you to grind your teeth, a condition officially known as bruxism.

Bruxism is an unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth. It might not be immediately noticeable to the person suffering from it; usually, a partner lets them know or start experiencing symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, or sensitive teeth.

The cause can be both physical and psychological, so treatment will usually address both of these aspects.

At Maidstone Dental, we can take care of possible physical causes such as overly-high fillings or missing/crooked teeth. In addition, we may fit you with a mouthguard if you grind your teeth at night.

But if the source of your teeth grinding is emotional or caused by illness, poor nutrition or long-term pain, it’s important to deal with these issues ahead of seeing your dentist.

Symptoms of teeth grinding

It can be difficult to recognise symptoms as they may disappear soon after you wake up, or if you grind your teeth during the day they may not be noticeable until a few hours later.

But these are the below symptoms to look out for:

• Fractured, chipped or loose teeth
• A dull headache, sore jaws and/or ear pain
• Aching teeth, and stiffness in the face and temples, particularly after you’ve just woken up
• Sore jaws while you’re eating, especially at breakfast time
• Sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks
• Intense jaw clenching

We recommend booking an appointment with us if you recognise some of these symptoms in yourself, so we can diagnose any issues and begin treatment.

The effects of teeth grinding

Bruxism places a lot of pressure on your teeth. Possible effects include:

• Cracking of protective enamel
• Fractures or damage to crowns and fillings
• Stress on jaw joints and muscles
• Sensitivity to temperature fluctuations
• Pain when biting down

Treatment

If your bruxism is severe enough to require treatment, the below methods may be used:

• Mouth night guards
• Therapies or relaxation techniques
• Medications
• Dental treatments for causes such as missing or crooked teeth

Talk with us to find out which option may work best for you by booking an appointment!

Sources: https://www.ada.org.au/Your-Dental-Health/Adults-31-64/Teeth-Grinding

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