Many families are struggling with stress right now. Trying to homeschool, being furloughed, or trying to balance your kids being home with attending jobs as essential employees can all lead to anxiety for everyone involved. Over time, high levels of stress could also lead to teeth grinding! In today’s blog, your Garland, TX, dentist talks about bruxism and possible solutions.
The Link Between Your Anxiety and Teeth Grinding
Did you know that high levels of stress could increase the risk of teeth grinding? Other potential causes include tooth loss, bite imbalance, injury to the face or jaw, TMJ disorder, or dental misalignment. When we grind and clench our teeth at night, this places pressure on the teeth that could begin to wear down enamel or even crack and chip a tooth. The damage then exposes the sensitive inner portions to harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of cavities and even dental infection.
When to Call Our Office
If you begin to notice your teeth feel sensitive or ache, let us know. As part of our emergency treatments, we can address the causes of your discomfort and offer solutions, such as fillings or custom-made crowns. Other symptoms of bruxism include headaches or migraines, jaw or facial pain, and aches in the neck and shoulders. If you do need to show up at our office to treat an infected or damaged tooth, then we will make sure you have the waiting room to yourself, and that commonly touched surfaces are cleaned and disinfected in between each patient visit.
Solutions at Home and In-Office
At home, try to take steps to ease stress, like keeping a schedule to handle your new routine, maintaining a good sleep schedule, and avoiding caffeinated products. Use a warm washcloth against the side of your face to ease tension too. When we can open our doors again, we may create an oral appliance to address your bruxism. The device is worn at night and fits like a mouthguard. When worn, it repositions the jaw to ease strain and then places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which helps prevent further damage. If you have any questions about emergency treatment, or addressing bruxism from home, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATING BRUXISM?
We don’t want the onset of poor oral health to lead to issues with your smile’s comfort and beauty. With proper homecare routines you can safeguard the smiles of you and your family! To learn more about treating common issues like bruxism, then schedule a consultation by calling Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-530-0552. For our patients who don’t speak English, our office is fluent in both Spanish and Vietnamese.
