Thinking your teeth grinding is caused by stress and anxiety? Grinding your teeth is also known as clenching your teeth and can indeed be a symptom of experiencing various levels of stress and/or anxiety. You can grind your teeth during the day or at night when you are sleeping. You may realize that you are teeth grinding, or it could be subconscious. Other terms for stress and anxiety include worrying and often feeling nervous, frustrated, aggressive, competitive and angry.
Over time, the act of grinding one’s teeth will cause various levels of damage to the teeth. The following is a list of common symptoms that come with grinding one’s teeth.
The rubbing of teeth together over time will eventually lead to a destruction of the enamel on the teeth. Once the enamel is gone, it is gone forever. Now that the teeth are more vulnerable, the person is more likely to experience tooth sensitivity. This means that when they drink or eat anything hot or cold, it is likely their teeth will hurt. The teeth are also now much more susceptible to getting tooth decay, which jeopardizes the overall health of the tooth. When those who grind their teeth do so at night, they will often wake themselves up, so they are not getting the sleep they need to properly function the next day. The grinding of teeth can even lead to being diagnosed with TMJ.
Yes, stress can cause someone to grind their teeth. According to the Bruxism Association, anxiety and stress are significantly related to tooth grinding during sleep, and it has been found that nearly 70 percent of bruxism occurs as a result of stress or anxiety.
We can answer any of your teeth grinding questions, so be sure to call us if you have any. No question is too small or too big, so please do not hesitate to call. The more you understand about what grinding your teeth can do to your dental health, the better you will be able to deal with this ongoing issue. If you believe that grinding your teeth is indeed due to stress and anxiety in your life, then know that there are things you can do in order to help relieve or even get rid of this stress and/or anxiety.
Call (718) 709-3883 today to reach 82nd St. Dental.
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