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Health estimated 16.5 per cent of adults. Experts have seen a surge in patients with tooth and gum damage from clenching and grinding in recent years, particularly during the stressful days of COVID-19 lockdowns. “When you’re really stressed, you might be putting a lot of tension in your masseter muscles, which are the muscles in the cheek responsible for chewing,” explains Dr Pujaa Patel, a UK-based dentist and facial aesthetics expert. “Because everything in the head and neck is linked, patients come in with tension headaches, jaw pain, earache and shoulder pain.” Whether bruxism occurs while awake or during sleep, most people don’t realise they’re clenching and grinding until they start experiencing symptoms. While the most common factor is stress, especially if the patient is doing it while awake, bruxism could also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition or a sleep disorder, says Dr Mirissa Price, a paediatric dentist. The movement the jawmakes while clenching and grinding is like chewing, but the force is up to ten times greater. That amounts to about 17 kilograms of pressure per square centimetre. Over time, it leads to cracked teeth or worn-down molars. Consistent grinding also weakens the ligament that holds the tooth in place, which can lead to tooth loss, says Dr Price. For stress-related bruxism, Dr Patel recommends relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga. Dr Price suggests chewing gum during stressful situations, which can offset the desire to grind, or snapping a rubber band bracelet as a reminder to relax the jaw. If you grind while asleep, your dentist can fit you for a night guard. “The guard takes the pressure instead of your teeth,” explains Dr Patel. Because it prevents your jaw from fully clamping down, it reduces the activity of the masseter muscle, helping it relax. Guards can be expensive, but Dr Price cautions against opting for a cheaper, over-the-counter product. “If you get a mouth guard that doesn’t fit properly, you can actually worsen the problem,” she says. Another treatment involves injecting botulinum toxin (Botox is one brand) into the masseter muscle on each side of the jaw, temporarily blocking nerve signals. Meanwhile, UK researchers are working on a smart headband that trains the wearer to control the grinding impulse. Worn at night, the device deploys a gentle vibration to relax clenched jaw muscles. OVER TIME, IT LEADS TO CRACKED TEETH, WORN-DOWN MOLARS AND TOOTH LOSS readersdigest.com.au 15