Behind Toothaches Lie Bruxism: A Stress-Side Effect

Many of us are trying our best to be in control of our health and our psyche. However, some people don’t realize that the psychological effects of the pandemic have started to creep in unconsciously. In this article, we’ll discuss how bruxism connects stress and toothaches together. 

Painful but healthy teeth: Is it possible?

There are a lot of possible reasons that can cause a toothache. Aside from dental conditions and sinus inflammation, stress can make your teeth painful in the form of bruxism or teeth grinding. When you are tense or anxious you might not notice that you are grinding your teeth, but your dentist can tell by examining them.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism happens when we clench or grind our teeth, and many of us do it from time to time. It can only be harmful when we do it frequently, or it becomes a habit. According to research, 70% of people clench their teeth because of extreme stress and anxiety, or they’re working in highly stressful environments.

Symptoms of bruxism include:

• Headache, ear, and jaw pain
• Pain when chewing
• Cracked or chipped tooth
• Increased teeth sensitivity
• Pain on temples
• Tensed facial muscles
• Grinding sounds while sleeping
• Worn down tooth enamel
• Loose teeth
• Scalloped tongue or teeth marks(indentation) 

Tips to relieve toothache from stress-related bruxism

Early detection of bruxism will give you a chance to protect your teeth from damage. Your dentist would recommend the following tips to relieve a toothache due to stress-induced bruxism:

• Stress management: Find time to de-stress and do some relaxation practices like meditation to manage your anxiety. Doing the things that you enjoy can also serve as a good distraction and let your mind rest from the stress you’re dealing with. 

• Maintain oral hygiene: Keep brushing and flossing your teeth to prevent other dental conditions that can aggravate your toothache. 

• Avoid stimulating food and drinks in the evening: Stimulants like caffeine can keep your energy high during bedtime that can lead to poor sleep and teeth grinding. 

• Consult your dentist: Your dentist can help monitor and treat your teeth from the damaging effects of bruxism. 

Dental approach in treating bruxism

Aside from the psychological tips to manage stress and anxiety, Dr. Roy Jennings Dentistry also provides preventive and restorative treatments for patients with bruxism in Monroe. We also suggest the use of the following dental appliances to protect our patients’ oral health: 

• Splints and mouth guards are dental appliances that are used temporarily or at night to prevent unconscious teeth-clenching and protect the teeth. 
• Teeth restoration and preventive treatments help restore the smile of patients with damaged teeth due to bruxism. 

If you notice that you’re starting to clench your teeth more often, call us now so we can help you as soon as possible. In this difficult time, it can be hard to relax, but we hope that you may find a way that can help relieve your stress and put a smile on your face even during the pandemic.