Do you need to worry about teeth grinding?
Often related to stress and anxiety, bruxism, or teeth grinding, is on the rise. With symptoms including headaches, muscle pain and poor sleep quality, is it time you took the pressure off?
Ever woken up with an aching jaw, a stiff neck or noticed a worndown tooth while peering into the bathroom mirror? Well, if any of those sound familiar, then you could be among the six million Brits who suffer from teeth grinding and jaw clenching, otherwise known as bruxism. Often associated with stress, recent reports suggest a rise in cases, thanks in part to the coronavirus pandemic and its disruptive influence on our everyday lives.
‘I’m certain Covid stress has contributed significantly,’ says dental surgeon Dr Zainab Al-Mukhtar, who has seen a notable increase in patients attending with jaw pain and cracked teeth over recent months. This is all indicative of bruxism, she says, explaining that heightened uncertainty can increase anxiety, which is strongly linked with the issue.