Stress, Clenching & Grinding

Stress is unfortunately a relatively common factor in today’s fast paced society.

Work, lifestyle, social engagements, relationships and financial commitments can have a huge impact on the level of stress we experience and this often results in clenching and grinding our teeth.

When we clench and/or grind, (in dental lingo we refer to this as ‘bruxing’) this can cause jaw pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity, flattening of the teeth and even loosening our teeth because of the amount of pressure placed on them.

Bruxing is a habit that can be overcome, or at least managed.
If stress is the issue, there are holistic approaches you can take like exercise, meditation, light strolls, or listening to relaxing music. However, if the teeth are being significantly affected, do mention it to your dentist and they will monitor and assess the severity and often will recommend wearing an occlusal splint or “night guard”.

Occlusal splints are custom made, (taking an impression of your mouth and sending it to a lab to be fabricated) and are made from a comfortable plastic material that is BPA-free. The guard is worn at night to keep your teeth from contacting, and even if you are doing the grinding motion, you’ll be grinding on the plastic, not the occluding teeth. The guard also protects your jaw joints from excessive force.