Can Stress Cause Teeth Grinding?

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.

Teeth grinding symptoms

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.

  • Dull headaches
  • Sore jaw
  • Sore neck
  • One or more loose teeth that could be painful

Teeth grinding damage

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.

Can stress cause teeth grinding?

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.

Have any questions for us?

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.

Recent Posts

How A TMJ Dentist Can Help You

A TMJ dentist is a dentist who is trained in general dentistry but continues their education with a focus on the temporomandibular joint and its disorders. They spend their days treating general dental conditions, however, much of their efforts are spent diagnosing, managing, and treating TMJ disorders.TMJ dentists are great resources to utilize when suffering…

What Are Signs Of TMJ? [Temporomandibular Disorder]

Eating, speaking, chewing gum: All these can suddenly become difficult if there is pain in the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Jaw pain can be worrisome, but before panicking, it is important to understand that most TMJ disorders improve with at-home care. Pain may resolve in a few days but can sometimes come back in cycles.…

How To Prepare Before An Oral Surgery Procedure

Understanding what is necessary to prepare for oral surgery is important for the success of the procedure. While many dental patients are concerned about the recovery process after surgery, they should also be concerned about getting ready for the procedure. When patients are fully prepared, they are more likely to experience positive outcomes.Oral surgery includes…

Reasons You Might Need A Dental Inlay

Dental inlays are a treatment option used to rebuild, renew and restore teeth that are in bad shape. They often get overlooked as they are not used as commonly as dental fillings or crowns. Nonetheless, they are a great option for treating molar teeth that are damaged due to injury, decay or even discoloration. Keep…


Recent Posts

Can A Partial Denture For One Missing Tooth Improve My Speech?

Can A Partial Denture For One Missing Tooth Improve My Speech?

Missing even a single tooth can have an impact on a person’s ability to pronounce many words. A partial denture for one missing tooth can help restore clear diction and relieve the embarrassment that can result when listeners have to ask you to repeat yourself. At first, speaking with a new denture can seem strange…

Partial Denture For One Missing Tooth: What Type Of Materials Are Used?

Partial Denture For One Missing Tooth: What Type Of Materials Are Used?

Patients in need of a partial denture for one missing tooth have many options to choose from in terms of materials. There are three primary materials used to fabricate partial dentures, and patients need to choose the right one based on their own needs and dentist recommendations.When determining what type of denture material to choose,…