Stress, the disease of modern life, is actually a part of daily life. We are continuously racing the time. We work more, our mind and our body get more tired, and we store stress. Competition in business life causes stress on us. Sometimes we feel stressed because of relationships with friends and family. While everything in our daily life continues routinely, anything that causes change may create stress on us. Adverse changes in our body health can cause stress too. In addition, mental changes and conflicts in the brain can also be considered as effective stress factors as visible changes.
Negative thoughts and feelings causing all such stress affect the body, and teeth as well. Whether aware or not, people grind and clench their teeth. This disease called bruxism cause many serious problems like abrasion on chewing surface of teeth, cracks and breaks on teeth, abrasion in neck parts of teeth near gum, and breaks on porcelain teeth and fillings, pain in temporomandibular joint, restriction in opening and closing mouth, head, neck and muscle aches. That’s why bruxism must be treated. While bruxism is treated by dentists, psychiatric support may also be necessary. In treatment of bruxism, custom made night plates would help protect the teeth. These plates keep the mouth open by about 2 mm, preventing pressure on teeth. The person cannot grind or clinch his/her teeth. These plates, preventing pressure and stress on teeth, are tough and made of tissue-friendly materials, and does no damage to teeth at all. People who don’t want to use such night protectors or have vomiting reflex can be treated via botox. Injection of certain doses of botox within masseter muscles reduces the excess strength of muscle, and relieves the stress. Expansion of muscle and swollen look of the muscle, arising from over-functioning of masseter muscle in people with bruxism can also damage face aesthetics. Botox may reduce swollen image, re-contouring aesthetical image of your face.
If your life is stressful, make sure that your toothbrush is soft. Avoid brushing your teeth like reflecting your stress and anger on your teeth.
