Teeth can be a real grind

What causes people to grind their teeth? Some people may experience teeth grinding, or bruxism (bruchk-siz-uhm,) throughout their lives, others report teeth grinding more often or only when stressed. It can occur during the day or may happen only at night. A person may be unaware of it until pain in the teeth, mouth, face, neck, and/or jaw cause him or her to seek relief. The person’s partner may be the one who is aware of it first, waking up in the middle of the night to a noise that sounds like bones cracking. Dental health professionals are trained to recognize signs of grinding in the mouth, such as worn down teeth, so regular check-ups are important. Teeth grinding may cause temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) or make it worse.

In conditions such as autism, tooth grinding can be quite common and worrisome to caregivers. There is also evidence that taking certain medications, such as those for depression or gastrointestinal disorders, may cause or increase teeth grinding because of how these drugs affect the body. If it can be determined that teeth grinding starts upon taking a new medication, a doctor may switch the patient to another drug or reduce the dosage. But if teeth grinding develops over time, a medication may not be easily identified as the cause.

Treatment for teeth grinding typically involves alleviating pain and discomfort through the use of night guards, dental appliances, and pain relievers. Some people love night guards, others find them difficult to tolerate. It is important, however, to seek treatment in order to relieve pain and prevent damage to the teeth. Dental night guards can be bought in drug stores or dentists can make them custom-fit for patients.

When evaluating teeth grinding or pain, it is important to look at a person’s entire dental and medical history, including any medications. People being treated for mental health issues may not think to report to their doctor that they are having tooth, face or jaw pain. People often neglect to write their complete medical histories and medications on their dental forms. They may be embarrassed or figure that their medical treatment is not information that a dentist or dental hygienist needs. However, when it comes to medication and oral health, it can matter quite a bit.

Are you experiencing tooth grinding, or waking up with an aching face or jaw? Speak with your doctor or dentist to get the proper treatment you need.

This post is not intended to advise, diagnose, or treat any condition. If you are in pain, please see your dentist or doctor.

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2934876/; Sutin AR, Terracciano A, Ferrucci L, Costa PT. Teeth Grinding: Is Emotional Stability related to Bruxism? Journal of research in personality. 2010;44(3):402-405. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2010.03.006. Accessed August 26, 2018

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941; TMJ disorders. Patient care and health information, diseases and conditions. Mayo Clinic Web site. Accessed August 26, 2018

Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2014 Oct;13(10):1319-26. doi: 10.1517/14740338.2014.947262. Epub 2014 Sep 6.

Psychotropic drugs and bruxism. Falisi G¹, Rastelli C, Panti F, Maglione H, Quezada Arcega R.Accessed August 26,2018

Mind Your Mouth. Part 2.

My first post on the relationship between mental health and oral health focused on risky behaviors like drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and the damage they cause the teeth, gums, mouth and throat. (http://mydentalhygienist.blogspot.com/2018/01/mind-your-mouth.html )

The link between oral health and mental health, however, is a two way street. People who don’t like how their teeth look or who have crooked, missing, or decayed teeth can suffer from low self-esteem. They may not want to smile or talk and lack confidence because they feel ashamed by the condition of their mouth. They may avoid social situations and have difficulties finding or keeping a job. Isolation, worry, and lack of employment can further deepen a person’s depression. They may blame themselves for how their mouth looks, even if it is not their fault. Some people have dental conditions which may stem from childhood or may be economic in nature, such as a family’s inability to afford braces or to have trauma to the teeth repaired. This can further cause a person to feel helpless and hopeless about the condition of their mouth.

Many people feel anxious about dental treatment but those who avoid going to the dentist out of fear may develop oral health problems due to a lack of regular care and check-ups. Dental phobia, the fear of going to the dentist or having dental treatment, is a recognized condition and a very real problem for some people. It can be caused by fear of pain, lack of control, feelings of shame over neglect of health, or traumatic past experiences. People may wait to seek care until they are in extreme pain, their condition is much worse, or they may not seek treatment at all, which can result in severe or life-threatening infection or tooth loss. Lack of dental care, dental anxiety and oral health problems can be a very damaging combination for a person’s physical overall health and their mental well being.

People with self esteem or depression due to oral health problems and people suffering from dental phobia need help from both dental and mental health professionals. Receiving proper dental care can help to restore a person’s confidence and motivate them to get help for the mental health issues they developed as a result of their poor oral health. Behavioral and cognitive therapies can help a person explore the reasons for their phobia and develop the tools that they need to help get them through dental care visits. Some people may require anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications.

Dental health professionals should recognize that dental phobia affects many people and is more common than people realize. It is estimated that between 9 – 15% of Americans have true dental phobia. Pain management in the dental office through the use of good and proper anesthesia based on a person’s medical, dental, and mental health conditions is needed, as is empathy about the person’s phobia. Patients should be asked about their fears and be invited to use coping strategies, such as listening to music on headphones, or relaxation techniques like deep breathing. Open discussion can help to build trust and get patients to the resources they need to help them heal.

Sources

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/what-is-dental-anxiety-and-phobia

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/controlling-dental-pain#2

Kisely S. No Mental Health without Oral Health. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie. 2016;61(5):277-282. doi:10.1177/0706743716632523.

This blog is not intended to diagnose, advise, or treat any condition. Please get help from your medical, dental or mental health professional if you need it - you'll be relieved that you did.