Pandemics are stressful. Dentists report an increase of people experiencing teeth grinding and oral pain during the coronavirus-19 outbreak because they feel increased stress due to health worries, the loss of work, and the close proximity of family members in lockdown. For many around the globe their stress levels have increased since the start of the pandemic. Therefore, many dental professionals have noticed an increase in teeth grinding. Due to an increase in stress, dentists are seeing more patients with signs of excessive clenching or grinding, also known as bruxism. These include tooth wear, cracks, fractures, and jaw pain.
Anyone who feels stressed-out is likely to experience jaw clenching and teeth grinding which can happen at night during sleep without the sufferer being aware of the exercise. This activity can rapidly wear down teeth, but there are dental remedies to help mitigate the damage and self-help measures like stress reduction and mindfulness that can effectively cure the problem. Either way, the path to wellness begins with your dentist. If you notice yourself clenching or grinding your teeth, you need to visit our Dental Clinic to assess the damage.
When you visit our Dental Clinic we will conduct a thorough examination, looking for early signs of tooth wear and take a detailed look in to your dental history. Many factors can play an important role in establishing a patient’s risk of bruxism and tooth fracture. In patients suffering from stress and demonstrating evidence of bruxism, we will give advice on how to cope with anxiety and introduce the implementation of interventions such as mouth guards to help minimize the risk of tooth wear and fractures.