How Stress Affects Your Oral Health

Stress impacts both our mind and body. But do you know exactly how stress can impact your oral health? Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is an oral habit that could damage your teeth, gums, and jaw. Bruxism is often a subconscious habit that occurs while a patient is asleep or during times of high anxiety or stress.

We provide screenings for bruxism during your routine dental exams. Treating bruxism as soon as possible can help prevent the development of secondary conditions such as TMD. Over time, teeth grinding can damage the delicate jaw joint, putting added stress on the surrounding muscles and nerves, and can result in long-term chronic pain. For many patients with TMD, treating teeth grinding or jaw clenching helps relieve painful symptoms.

How Do I Know If I Grind My Teeth?

For many patients, it can be difficult to know if they are grinding their teeth because it so commonly occurs during sleep. Many of our patients report that their partner cannot sleep due to the constant sound of grinding teeth. Routine dental health exams can help your dentist diagnose teeth grinding with a simple visual examination. This will allow us to treat it early on to prevent further damage to your smile.

You may be grinding your teeth if:

• You regularly wake up with a headache
• Have unexplained chips or cracks in your teeth
• Your teeth appear to be wearing down
• You have chronic jaw pain or muscle tension in your face
• You suffer from persistent sensitive teeth
• Have damaged tissue inside your mouth
• You suffer from unexplained earaches or facial pain

Treat Bruxism at Double A Dental Group

We offer treatments for people who suffer from teeth grinding. One of the quickest and most effective treatments for teeth grinding is an oral sleep appliance. Many people can curb teeth grinding by practicing better dietary habits or relaxation methods. We will also treat and correct the source of the problem and then repair any damage as a result of teeth grinding.

Oral sleep appliance therapy may be prescribed by Dr. Izvernari to help you stop the teeth-grinding habit. A custom-fit oral appliance can be worn while asleep to help protect the teeth and jaw from further damage. The oral appliance fits snugly over the upper and lower jaw and holds the jaw in proper alignment, preventing the grinding motion.

Dr. Izvernari may recommend cosmetic treatments to repair damage caused by prolonged bruxism. Chronic teeth grinding can leave teeth worn, chipped, or broken, and even affect the health of the gums. Dental crowns, veneers, or other restorative dental solutions can help rebuild the function and appearance of your beautiful and healthy smile.