Are you grinding your teeth more than usual these days? You’re not alone, dentists say
As coronavirus cases continue to surge in the U.S., you may notice that your muscles feel extra tight or that you have chronic fatigue.
These are normal bodily responses to unprecedented times, but now doctors are finding evidence of it in a place you may not have thought much about: your mouth.
Dentists across the country are noticing upticks in people complaining about jaw pain and headaches — telltale signs someone might be grinding their teeth at night.
“I have noticed a flare up of patients that were under control now having jaw pain and many of them attributed that to increased bruxism, or grinding of their teeth,” Dr. Sherwin Arman, the director of the orofacial pain program at the UCLA School Of Dentistry, told McClatchy News.
Due to the pandemic and protective protocols, Arman only treats patients in emergency situations experiencing acute pain. Some of his regular patients who appeared to have their grinding under control, are now back where they began.
When asked if he thinks the influx of the behavior is tied to coronavirus-related stress, Arman said, “absolutely.”
“I started to connect the dots,” he said.
Another dentist in Buffalo, New York said 30% to 40% of her patients have been complaining about frequent migraines and decreased opening of their jaw, according to WKBW Buffalo.
“It is a stressful climate in our world right now,” Dr. Michelle Augello, owner of Nickel City Dentistry, told the outlet. “They were clenching and grinding their teeth, and they were breaking a lot of [them].”
On top of worrying about one’s health, Arman has noticed another disheartening trend.
“The one thing that is front and center” is the stress of not being able to afford a treatment, he said. “When you lose your job, you’re then losing your insurance.”
Why do people grind their teeth?
People usually grind their teeth during the day or at night, but the latter is more common, Arman said.
Teeth grinding during the day could be a response to stress, similar to biting nails, nearby objects such as pens and ice. It’s called a parafunction, or a habit that’s beyond the norm, Arman said.
These behaviors are usually more easy to control and be aware of, but at night, sleep disorders may be behind the action.
With sleep apnea, for example, people don’t get enough oxygen, so their bodies flood their systems with stress-related chemicals in an attempt to arouse the body enough to receive proper air, Arman said.
Instead, the result is teeth grinding and jaw clenching, which people often aren’t aware of when they wake up.
Arman said some antidepressants have also been linked to teeth grinding because the drugs increase serotonin levels in the body, which shut down certain parts of the brain and excites others. This can “affect directly on movement (grinding) or indirectly through sleep mechanisms,” he said.
What are signs of teeth grinding?
A dentist can tell someone grinds at night if the enamel and tips of their teeth are worn away, Arman said.
“Someone could move their jaw forward and you can see wear patterns and you have a puzzle,” he said. “You can see how the teeth fit in place.”
There could be white lines on the insides of people’s cheeks called “linea alba,” which means the skin was caught between their teeth when biting down, according to Arman.
Tongues might also show signs of “scalloping,” making it look like “a Ruffles chip,” he said.
“When you’re grinding or clenching, the tongue doesn’t stay paralyzed; the tongue is pushing out, so it’s making a mold of the inner part of the teeth,” Arman said.
In some cases, people can fracture, loosen or lose their teeth altogether from chronic grinding, according to WebMD.
“When these events happen, bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures may be needed,” the outlet said. “It can also affect your jaws… and even change the appearance of your face.”
Repairs of these kinds of damages can be up to thousands of dollars, Augello told WKBW Buffalo
What can you do to help your teeth grinding?
Arman suggests downloading apps that can remind you during the day to unclench your jaw and create space between your teeth.
You can also place stickers around your home as a reminder to stop the behavior, he added.
If habits are more severe, Arman said dentists can refer patients to pain specialists or sleep physicians to fully evaluate the reasons behind the action.
Mouthguards can also help ease muscle and joint pain while protecting teeth from wearing down. “They don’t stop the grinding, though,” Arman said.
Other tips include avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and chewing gum, WebMD says.
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 6:34 PM.
