Emotional Stress Contributes to Bruxism

Bruxism refers to grinding or clenching of the teeth, often unconsciously, during the day or at night during sleep.

If you have bruxism, you grind your teeth without your knowledge. Your bed partner may be able to hear your grinding of teeth.

Bruxism often occurs in the early part of the night and can disrupt your sleep partner.

Some of them make no sound while grinding their teeth and do not realize they are doing it until the dentist notices unusual wear spots on their teeth.

If you grind or clench the teeth, you may wake up with a headache, earache or toothache. Your facial muscles may be sore and the jaw joints tender.

It can cause discomfort and can eventually damage dental restorations and may loosen teeth. Bruxism can also cause damage to the temporomandibular joints the joints on each side of the mouth that connect the lower jaw to the skull.

The pressure from clenching and grinding can cause cracks or fractures in the teeth. The underlying layer of dentin may be exposed as your teeth enamel is worn away.

This causes you teeth to become sensitive to temperature changes and pressure. If you have bruxism, you may feel nervous tension such as pain, anger, or frustration.

The exact cause of bruxism is uncertain but daily mental stress is considered one of the reason contributing to this habit. Some clench and never feel symptoms. Stress overload is a serious problem. It is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society.

Mental stress can affect your body. For some, the effects of constant stress, anxiety [Get rid of Anxiety] or depression can affect oral health, in several ways.

An extreme oral stress symptom is alteration of the chemical structure of saliva. This can leave you prone to mouth ulceration, tooth decay or bad breath.

Even periods of exam stress have been found to be related with increased infections of the mouth that is around impacted or emerging wisdom teeth.

If you are under stress, you are less likely to eat well, sleep well or be interested in daily hygiene. The mouth is a place where infections can easily occur.

Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism:

• Chipped teeth
• Sore jaw muscles
• Wear to the biting surface of some or all teeth.
• Break or damage of the teeth
• Your spouse may complain grinding noise while you sleep.

You should go for regular dental checkups to detect damage in the early stages. Your dentist can diagnose and treat irregular wear on teeth and determine the source of facial pain that may result from bruxism.

Based on the diagnosis of your dentist, treatment should be recommended. Your dentist may suggest a night guard that can be worn while sleeping.

The night guard slips over the teeth in one jaw and prevents contact with the opposing teeth. The night guard relieves some of the pressure of grinding and clenching.

If stress seems to be a major cause of your bruxism, it may be helpful to find ways to relax, such as listening to music, reading a book, taking a walk or enjoying a warm bath.

Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the side of the face may help relax muscles that have become sore from clenching. If you have difficulty managing stress, counseling may point to efficient ways of dealing with stressful situations.

What measures can be taken to fight the consequences of stress?

• Take oral sedatives prior to sleep to help induce relaxation.
• Practice relaxation exercises to control stress.
• Take anti-inflammatory medication to help alleviate soreness with advice of the doctor
• Purchase a dentist fabricated mouth guard to protect the teeth during sleep with doctor’s advice.