Is pandemic stress affecting your teeth?
According to a recent ADA member poll, since the start of the pandemic, 59% of dentists say they have seen an increase in bruxism (grinding and clenching). 53% of dentists have seen an increase in TMD symptoms (jaw and facial pain, headaches, jaw clicking). 53% of dentists have seen an increase in teeth chipping and cracking.
There isn’t an easy answer for the stress we are all feeling right now. However, I can recommend a few things to make sure your teeth are still in good shape when we come out of this!
The best thing you can do for yourself if you think you might grind or clench your teeth is get a night guard. Grinding and clenching can cause headaches, jaw pain, tooth pain and can lead to fractures and breaks in your teeth that require fixing. Wearing a night guard protects your teeth while you’re grinding and clenching at night. Some people even clench their teeth during the day! During the day, your mouth mantra should be “lips together, teeth apart.” If you notice you’re clenching during the day, try to relax your jaw. Massage, stretching your mouth, even icing the jaw area can all help. At night, a night guard is essential!
Night guards are the best protection for your teeth!
A night guard is a pricey investment (but cheaper than dental work!). To test if a patient could get relief from a night guard, I sometimes recommend trying an over-the-counter night guard for a short time to see if it helps. These are cheap and readily available at drug stores. They can give you an indication of whether or not a night guard will help you. I don’t recommend them long-term, because they are not a custom fit for your teeth and mouth. A night guard that doesn’t fit well can cause a lot of problems with your bite. A custom night guard will always fit better, feel more comfortable, and be more durable over time.
Other avenues to explore to get relief from bruxism include vitamin supplements and Botox injections. Some patients report relief after taking B-complex vitamins and also Magnesium. Patients can also have Botox injected into their jaw muscle. This decreases the strength with which your jaw clenches and can provide long-lasting relief.
In my experience, there isn’t one silver bullet that will cure bruxism (unfortunately!). Most often, it is many small things that add up to relief from symptoms. Also, because bruxism often takes months to become a problem, it can also take several months to feel the effects of treatment. If you are feeling pain or soreness in your mouth or jaw, please call the office and let’s start working on a solution for you!
To learn more, see the Mayo Clinic’s guide to bruxism and treatment: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bruxism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356100
