This 8-part series provides an in-depth look at seven different habits, addictions and behaviors that are deadly to your oral health.
Welcome back to our 8-part article series on the different habits, behaviors and addictions that are deadly to the health of your teeth and gums. By indulging in these various “dental sins”, you could eventually find yourself sitting in a consultation with a Connecticut dental implants specialist! In our previous installment, Part 5, we discussed the dangers of being rough with your teeth (using them as tools, not wearing a mouth guard during sports play and eating hard candies and ice). In this article, the seventh installment of the series, we will be exploring deadly dental sin # 6: teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
Stress, Stress, Stress!
The modern lifestyle is marked by stress. It seems that in every magazine we read examples of people who have done tremendously well and we tend to pit ourselves against these “untouchables” – the top 5% of human achievers on the planet – rather than be a little more realistic in our personal goals. You may never be as wealthy as Oprah Winfrey or as business savvy as Donald Trump. You may never own as many cars as Jeremy Clarkson or as many houses as Tom Cruise. Yet still, our goals tend to be stratospheric in ambition and we push ourselves to our very limits to achieve them.
But, even if you don’t want anything more than to pay your next round of bills, life on this planet can be exceptionally hard and demanding. Stress is a common problem and it’s a potentially fatal one too. Typical symptoms of stress are teeth grinding and jaw clenching. For some reason, anxiety, stress and anger cause us to gnash our teeth together and tighten our jaw muscles and we almost always do this sub-consciously. What’s the problem with this?
The Problems of Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching
See the above picture? THIS is the problem with teeth grinding and jaw clenching. These habits have a murderous effect upon your teeth. “I have seen patients who have ground their teeth down to nubs,” says a Connecticut dental implants specialist. “Some teeth needed replacement, some needed root canals and all needed capping. This patient had utterly devastated their dentition from grinding their teeth at night.”
The problem with teeth grinding and jaw clenching is that we tend to do them sub-consciously or at nighttime when we’re asleep, so it’s nearly impossible to discipline ourselves to stop. This is why certain preventative measures are so important:
- If you have a habit of grinding your teeth – a condition referred to as “Bruxism” – go to your dentist and have a mouth guard fitted. Wear it to bed every night to prevent nocturnal gnashing from wrecking your teeth.
- Go for regular scheduled appointments with your dentist so that they can keep an eye on any damage your habits may be doing.
- Get to the root of the problem and find a way to cope better with stress. Take up an arts class or some yoga… try communicating more with your boss or colleagues if you’re feeling stressed at work. Reassess your life’s goals and decide what would make you happier and less stressed. Take a holiday!
Dealing with stress won’t only save your teeth from certain destruction; it may save your life, too!
Stay Tuned for Part 8
Stay tuned for the final installment of this 8-part article series in which Stamford dental implants specialists discuss the 7th deadly dental sin against good oral health: excessive drinking.