A dentist warned that stress may drive many people to engage in an involuntary habit during sleep that causes permanent damage to teeth, without them realizing it until problems such as jaw pain appear.
Dr. Bhavika Parikh, a dental surgeon at Smile & Shine Clinic, said that teeth grinding, which is the involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth, is becoming an increasingly common problem for dentists, especially among people with high levels of stress.
She explained that many people associate stress with sleep disorders, headaches, or low mood, but they do not pay attention to its direct effect on dental and jaw health.
She added that signs that reveal teeth grinding include abnormally flattened teeth, cracks in the enamel layer, as well as waking up in the morning with a feeling of tightness in the jaw or a mild headache.
Baric said: "When I ask patients about their stress levels, I find it to be the common factor in most cases. Often, the effects of stress on the teeth can be observed before the person themselves realizes there is a problem."
She pointed out that the damage from teeth grinding accumulates gradually over months or years, before appearing as a cracked tooth, persistent jaw pain, or a noticeable increase in tooth sensitivity.
She emphasized that early intervention helps to reduce long-term damage, explaining that dentists can detect early signs of the condition even before clear symptoms appear in the patient.
She pointed out that teeth grinding is not limited to adults, but is more common among children and adolescents compared to the elderly.
The doctor offered five tips for people who think they are grinding their teeth: monitor morning symptoms such as jaw pulling or tooth sensitivity, do not postpone a visit to the dentist, inquire about the use of a night guard, consider the option of Botox injections for severe cases after consulting with specialists, and reduce the use of electronic screens before bed to improve sleep quality and reduce stress.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) also advises using painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen when experiencing pain or swelling in the jaw, along with using cold compresses for 20 to 30 minutes to help relieve pain and swelling.
