Do the Holidays Stress You Out? You Could Be Damaging Your Teeth!
The holidays can bring added stress to your life, and stress can have a damaging effect on your teeth. Grinding your teeth can have negative consequences on your oral and physical health. Learn ways to alleviate the problems that can lead you to clench your jaw and ways to avoid problems such as tooth loss and receding gums.
Stress and Your Dental Health:
Stress can lead to a variety of physical and mental health issues, including problems with your teeth. When you are under stress, it may cause your jaw muscles to tighten which can put unnecessary pressure on the joints in your jaw and lead to clenching or grinding of the teeth. This is known as bruxism and it can cause a variety of oral health issues. Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:
- Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner
- Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
- Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
- Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won’t open or close completely
- Jaw, neck or face pain or soreness
- Pain that feels like an earache, though it’s actually not a problem with your ear
- Dull headache starting in the temples
- Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
- Sleep disruption
Effects of Tooth Grinding:
Grinding your teeth can have significant negative consequences on your oral and physical health. It can cause headaches, jaw pain, neck and shoulder pain, earaches, damaged tooth enamel, loose teeth, receding gums and even tooth loss. If left untreated, the effects of teeth grinding can become increasingly worse.
Tips to Manage Stress and Protect Your Teeth:
There are a variety of methods that can help you manage the stress in your life. Regular exercise, managing time efficiently, deep breathing exercises, meditation, and getting enough sleep are all great ways to combat stress and give yourself more control over your life. Additionally, getting regular dental checkups and speaking with your dentist about using a mouth guard can help protect your teeth from the damaging effects of grinding.
Bruxism Treatments
If you or your child has bruxism, your doctor may suggest ways to preserve or improve your teeth. Although these methods may prevent or correct the wear to your teeth, they may not stop the bruxism:
- Splints and mouth guards. These are designed to keep teeth separated to avoid the damage caused by clenching and grinding. They can be constructed of hard acrylic or soft materials and fit over your upper or lower teeth.
- Dental correction. In severe cases — when tooth wear has led to sensitivity or the inability to chew properly — your dentist may need to reshape the chewing surfaces of your teeth or use crowns to repair the damage.
Other approaches
One or more of these approaches may help relieve bruxism:
- Stress or anxiety management. If you grind your teeth because of stress, you may be able to prevent the problem by learning strategies that promote relaxation, such as meditation. If the bruxism is related to anxiety, advice from a licensed therapist or counselor may help.
- Behavior changes. Once you discover that you have bruxism, you may be able to change the behavior by practicing proper mouth and jaw position. Ask your dentist to show you the best position for your mouth and jaw.
- Biofeedback. If you’re having a hard time changing your habits, you may benefit from biofeedback, a method that uses monitoring procedures and equipment to teach you to control muscle activity in your jaw.
The holidays are a wonderful time for family and friends to come together. Don’t let stress ruin the memories you make this season. Utilize methods that reduce stress and protect your teeth from the damaging effects of grinding. With proper stress management and regular dental checkups, you can keep your teeth healthy and enjoy a happy holiday season.
Take Care of Your Smile with Dr. Evanson
Dr. Evanson and her team are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for you and your family. We can help you keep your smile healthy and strong throughout the holidays. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you maintain your oral health.
Leave a reply →
