Teeth Grinding is on the Rise Due to Pandemic Stress

Studies have shown that teeth grinding has increased during the pandemic; we can help protect your smile.

Now that we're more than a year into a global pandemic, we are learning more about the variety of indirect effects that COVID-19 has had on the population. 

We have seen it affect our mental health, our emotional health, and physical health. Studies are also showing us that the pandemic is also impacting some people’s oral health. 

According to the American Dental Association, there has been a 60% increase in teeth clenching and grinding. It is common for some people to clench their teeth when they are stressed. Thankfully, teeth grinding is an easy condition to treat with a quick trip to your dentist! 

You may not even notice that you are grinding your teeth. There are countless individuals who grind their teeth while they sleep. It is actually one of the most common sleep disorders. However, some people without a history of teeth grinding may start nighttime grinding if they’ve been more stressed than usual. 

If you are waking up with unexplained jaw pain or headaches, it may be worth a trip to your dentist to see if you’re grinding your teeth at night. Untreated teeth grinding can cause accelerated wear to your smile and lead to unwanted tooth and jaw pain. Your dentist is able to detect signs of grinding and come up with a treatment plan to protect your teeth.

Teeth grinding is a common condition that dentists treat regularly. If you are mainly grinding your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend a mouth guard to wear while you sleep. These mouth guards are custom-made to fit comfortably in your mouth. They are highly effective at protecting your teeth and could actually stop the grinding completely. 

If your teeth grinding is happening during the day then you may want to take measures to reduce your stress levels. Exercise, meditation, and deep breathing are all simple steps to take to reduce stress. 

Some people’s teeth grinding may not even be caused by stress. Have you started drinking more coffee lately? High caffeine intake is actually linked to teeth grinding! 

Remember to stay up to date on your dental check-ups, even during the pandemic! Our team is trained to detect signs of teeth grinding. We are able to fix any damage that may be done and also advise you on how to protect your teeth from unwanted grinding in the future.