Have you ever woken up with a sore jaw or sensitive teeth and wondered why? You might be grinding your teeth without realizing it. The medical term used to describe teeth grinding is bruxism, it is also one of the common and overlooked issues, and notably, it has a strong connection with anxiety and stress.

Also, at times, teeth grinding has no proper cause, so further, in this blog, let’s get to know whether anxiety and stress are the common signs of teeth grinding.

What is teeth grinding?

Teeth grinding is nothing but a condition where you unconsciously grind your teeth against each other. Also, you don’t need to panic about this because several people experience this during the day or night. In case you are experiencing bruxism during the daytime, you will clench or grind your teeth when you are awake, even without realizing it. Likewise, if you have night bruxism, you will clench or grind your teeth when sleeping.

Simply, people who have the habit of teeth grinding while sleeping will easily get affected by other disorders such as snoring issues and pauses in breathing. Several individuals remain unaware of it, until it starts disturbing your jaw or tooth.

Also, this tooth grinding can be annoying for a few individuals as they will experience this more often, resulting in jaw pain, headaches, teeth damage, and other issues. Not just you, even your sleep partner will get disturbed because of your teeth grinding. Simply, get a better understanding of the signs of bruxism and get your frequent dental checkup to protect your teeth.

What are the symptoms of teeth grinding?

The common symptoms of teeth grinding include:

Your teeth grinding sound can wake up your bed partner, as that grinding sound will be very loud.
Individuals’ teeth will be chipped, flattened, and they will also get loose.
Your tooth enamel will be worn, and obviously, your inner layer of teeth will be exposed.
Tooth sensitivity.
Stiffness or tiredness in your jaw will not help in opening or closing your jaw easily. So your jaw will click or pop.
Face, jaw, or neck pain or soreness.
Jaw muscles are very large.
Tooth pain will feel like ear pain, even though the real issue has not arisen from your ears.
You will experience a mild headache.
Sleep-related problems.

What are the causes of teeth grinding?

One cannot exactly say what actually causes bruxism, it can be triggered by a couple of physical, mental health, or genetic factors.

Awake bruxism: This may arise due to mixed emotions like anxiety, stress, anger, tension, or frustration. Simply, there are lots of chances for bruxism to become a habit, that is, when thinking deeply or concentrating.
Sleep bruxism: Sleep tooth grinding is an issue that usually occurs when sleeping. Which has the potential to greatly affect your sleep.

What are the factors that trigger teeth grinding?

Stress: At times, teeth grinding can be a result of undergoing stress and anxiety. Even anger and frustration can trigger teeth grinding.

Age: Teeth grinding is more common among kids, and it goes away as they grow.

Personality type: If you are a person who naturally gets aggressive, hyperactive can increase your risk of teeth grinding.

Awake time mouth habits: Activities linked with the mouth, that is lip, tongue, or cheek, like cheek biting and chewing gum for an extended period, will increase the risk of teeth grinding.

Family history: At times, sleep teeth grinding may be passed from family members. Also, if you have bruxism, any of your first-line relatives will have a greater chance of developing teeth grinding.
Other conditions: As mentioned above, bruxism has a strong connection with a few mental health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, GERD, night terrors, epilepsy, sleep-related issues like sleep apnea, and ADHD.

Does tooth grinding cause any complications?

As mentioned earlier, teeth grinding won’t cause severe complications, also in extreme cases it will result in:

Your jaws, teeth, and crown will be affected by teeth grinding.
Intense headaches.
Unbearable facial and jaw pain.

Is tooth grinding related to anxiety or stress?

Several studies indicate a strong connection between emotional health and teeth grinding. Further, let’s see how anxiety and stress contribute:

Increased muscle tension:

Whenever you are anxious or stressed, your body will naturally tense up, notably the jaw muscles. This type of grinding will mostly occur at night.

Poor sleep patterns:

Anxiety can greatly affect your sleep and pave the way for nighttime grinding. Even a few people who grind their teeth during sleep may suffer from insomnia or restless sleep.

Tension during the day:

Certain habits that you perform when you are stressed, like jaw clenching, nail-biting, or chewing your pen, include teeth grinding. Often, these behaviors are overlooked and have the potential to disturb your dental health.

How to diagnose bruxism?

Typically, based on your symptoms and physical exam, dentists will diagnose bruxism. But in a few cases, you may require a proper sleep, this overnight sleep test will occur in a sleep center and offer a definitive diagnosis.

How to treat tooth grinding?

In case you have mild tooth grinding or are experiencing it occasionally, you do not need any treatment. In most cases, doctors from the best dental hospital in Coimbatore will recommend the following treatments:

Mouth guards: Typically, to protect your teeth, dentists will use a custom mouth guard. This process will make your jaw more comfortable to limit TMJ muscle strain. At the end, when your condition is getting worse, your healthcare provider will suggest a mouth guard.

Stress reduction methods: Doing stress management techniques will help to alleviate teeth grinding symptoms. Various therapies, such as meditation, exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy, are required.

Lifestyle changes: If your doctor says alcohol and caffeine are the reason for teeth grinding, consider limiting them. Likewise, if you are smoking, quitting it can greatly assist in stopping bruxism and getting a better quality of sleep.

Medications: Ensure taking the muscle relaxer close to your bedtime, because it will assist in preventing teeth grinding. Most of the time, this method is recommended temporarily by your healthcare providers.
Few injections: When you are experiencing intense teeth pain, healthcare professionals will suggest you to take injections. These injections will help in reducing pain and relaxing your jaw muscles. You need to attend all the following appointments for the next three to four months to maintain your results.

Can I prevent teeth grinding?

You need to understand that you cannot stop teeth grinding if you are doing it at night, that is when sleeping. Also, there are certain steps you can take to alleviate your overall risks, like:

To reduce stress and anxiety, individuals who are experiencing tooth grinding should consider doing meditation.
Attend regular follow-ups, because when it is diagnosed earlier, dentists can treat any dental problem before it is getting worse.
Also, stay away from smoking, drugs, and binge consumption of alcohol.

Simply, if kids have the habit of tooth grinding, it will go away as they get older. Also, the mouth guards will help adults who have the habit of tooth grinding. So when you get one, ensure that you are doing it regularly. In most cases, without medical treatment, teeth grinding will go away easily. Also, it is crucial to understand how to manage your signs if you have a flare-up. To get a better understanding of your condition, reach out to a healthcare professional.

How to manage teeth grinding caused by anxiety or stress?

Fortunately, you can take steps to manage this habit and its root causes.

Stress management:
Consider doing yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.
To manage anxiety, consider journaling or therapy.
Exercise daily to release built-up tension.
Enhance sleep hygiene:
Develop a relaxing bedtime routine.
Avoid using phones close to bedtime.
Limit consuming caffeine or alcohol in the evening.
Mouth guards:
At times, dentists will suggest a custom night guard to maintain your teeth’s health when you are sleeping. It won’t stop grinding, but it greatly helps in reducing the damage.
Behavioral therapy:
For anxiety-related tooth grinding, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) remains an effective method to reduce the effects. It assists in addressing the thought patterns that may result in stress and anxiety.
Dental evaluation:
When you are going for frequent health checkups, dentists can easily diagnose your tooth grinding in its early stages. Further, your healthcare provider may suggest orthodontic treatment if bite alignment is a contributing factor.

Can we fix the teeth after grinding them?

Based on the extent of damage, healthcare professionals will try to fix it. The common treatment methods that will be employed include dental bonding, crowns, veneers, or, for severe cases, full mouth reconstruction. Further, dentists can restore worn-down teeth, repair chips and cracks, and enhance bite alignment.

After repairing the damage, using a night guard, or managing stress will assist in preventing further grinding. To protect your oral health in the long term, you should address both the signs and the root cause.

How should I relax my jaw while sleeping?

To relax your jaw when sleeping, start by reducing your stress through calming bedtime routines such as deep breathing, meditation, or mild stretching. Limit caffeine and screen time close to bedtime, because it could increase your tension. Before sleeping, use warm compresses on your jaw to relax those tight muscles. Simply, a customized night guard from your doctor can assist in preventing clenching and protecting your teeth. In case jaw tension persists, consider getting physical therapy or reaching out to a dentist or sleep specialist to treat the underlying issues, like bruxism or sleep apnea.

When should I consider getting treatment from a doctor?

You should consider reaching out to the dentist when your tooth grinding persists or recurs often. The best dental doctor in Coimbatore will help you whether you need temporary treatment to ease your stressful period or long-term solutions such as a mouth guard.

You need to understand that when you are grinding your teeth occasionally, it’s probably not a huge deal. Also, you are doing it for a continuous period, which may result in health issues over time, like cracked teeth, headaches, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint disorder, and other conditions.

Final thoughts:

In conclusion, we can say that the main red flags behind teeth grinding are stress and anxiety. Whenever you feel that you are grinding your teeth, never ignore the symptoms. Simply, when staying stress-free, you won’t experience issues like tooth grinding, and automatically, your smile will remain beautiful as it is. Remember that even peace of mind can also pave the way for a beautiful smile.