Stress And Teeth Grinding

When you are under stress, your body feels it in different ways. Some people feel extremely on-edge and irritable, while others feel very overwhelmed and fatigued. Many people lose a great deal of sleep because they cannot turn their brains off at night, and they experience insomnia for weeks on end. Other people are able to sleep, but they find that they wake up in the mornings with headaches and jaw pain. For those who experience morning headaches and a sore jaw, stress may be impacting your oral health because you are likely grinding your teeth at night.

Stress is one of the most common causes of teeth grinding. Teeth grinding, medically termed bruxism, is a condition that can compromise the health of your smile. According to the Bruxism Association, stress levels are the strongest predictor of bruxism. Over 70% of people who suffer from teeth grinding admit to feeling overly stressed in different areas of life. Stress must be relieved in some way – through exercise, talking with someone, or having a good cry. Yet, for many people who try to conceal their stress, they find that their body will find a way to let it out.

Teeth grinding most commonly occurs during the night while you sleep. Without knowing it, you can clench and grind your teeth for hours at a time. Bruxism puts an enormous amount of stress on the teeth, and over time it can wear down the tooth enamel.

Each tooth is a living feature that is protected by an outer layer of enamel. Even though tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it is not indestructible. Due to the amount of pressure that grinding puts on the teeth, the tooth enamel will begin to wear down, causing the teeth to change appearance. If your front teeth have developed a “flattened” appearance, you need to speak with your dentist as soon as possible. Without intervention, teeth grinding can cause irreversible damage to your smile.

At Gwinnett Family Dental Care, we provide comprehensive dental care. We want to help you achieve and maintain a beautiful smile. Call us today!