ECONOMIC RECESSION MAKES TEETH ACHE....
If you think the current economic slow down is hitting only pockets, think again. An increase in stress-related dental and health problems are the result of high levels of mental stress. The number of clients visiting dentists with toothaches and other dental problems has increased by 20 to 30 percent in the last four months. Mental stress damages dental health. The manifestation of anxiety and tension results in an increase of tooth sensitivity, unexplained toothaches, jaw muscle fatigue and increase in headaches especially in the morning, leaving you with a medical condition called bruxism. Bruxism is a condition characterized by clenching or grinding of teeth. People can clench and grind subconsciously during both the day and night, although sleep-related bruxism is often the bigger problem because it is harder to control. Whether or not bruxism causes pain and other problems may be a complicated mix of factors - how much stress you are under, how long and tightly you clench and grind, whether your teeth are misaligned, your posture, ability to relax, diet, sleeping habits and other factors. Each person is different and whatever the reason is - bruxism can cause:
* Teeth grinding, which may be loud enough to annoy sleeping partners
* Erosion of tooth enamel
* Sore or painful jaw
* Headaches
* Earaches (partly because the structure of the temporomandibular joint are very close to the ear canal and partly because of referred muscle)
* Insomnia, depression, eating disorders etc.
So, how do you treat it? The goals of long-term treatment are to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth and reduce clenching behaviors as much as possible. Mouth guards (orthotics) have been used since the 1930's to treat teeth grinding, clenching and TMJ disorders. For some patients, the symptoms go away as long as they use the orthotic, but pain returns when they stop. As a next phase after orthotic therapy, orthodontic adjustment of the bite pattern or to rebuild the bite to match the position of the orthotic is beneficial for many people. Since the immediate financial future remains uncertain, seeking treatment from a Neuromuscularly trained dentist now to prevent permanent long term damage, would be a wise treatment.
* Teeth grinding, which may be loud enough to annoy sleeping partners
* Erosion of tooth enamel
* Sore or painful jaw
* Headaches
* Earaches (partly because the structure of the temporomandibular joint are very close to the ear canal and partly because of referred muscle)
* Insomnia, depression, eating disorders etc.
So, how do you treat it? The goals of long-term treatment are to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth and reduce clenching behaviors as much as possible. Mouth guards (orthotics) have been used since the 1930's to treat teeth grinding, clenching and TMJ disorders. For some patients, the symptoms go away as long as they use the orthotic, but pain returns when they stop. As a next phase after orthotic therapy, orthodontic adjustment of the bite pattern or to rebuild the bite to match the position of the orthotic is beneficial for many people. Since the immediate financial future remains uncertain, seeking treatment from a Neuromuscularly trained dentist now to prevent permanent long term damage, would be a wise treatment.
