The current COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost everyone in the world in the last year in a variety of ways, but how has it affected your oral health?
Without a normal schedule, people can neglect and pay little attention to things that have been a daily habit, such as properly brushing and flossing. Dentists across the nation are doing their best to reduce the risk of spread not only to save lives, but also in hopes of returning to a normal routine, one that includes proper dental hygiene.
One major cause in the uptick of dental damage is the added stress that has come along with the pandemic. Using muscles to push teeth together and grind around is one of the body’s ways of reducing the energy made from the stress.
The act of grinding one’s teeth is known as “bruxism” and is very common without the pandemic. Add in financial worries, health concerns and general anxieties we’ve felt in the last year, it’s easy to see how this has led to an increase in jaw clenching and teeth grinding.
Have you caught yourself grinding your teeth? Here are a few things you can do to help stop:
- Exercise is a great solution to alleviate stress levels.
- Cut back on food and drinks that have caffeine.
- Wear a mouthguard when you sleep.
- Use BOTOX.
Because many facial pain disorders are muscle-related, Botox therapy can help alleviate these symptoms. The areas of tension causing tooth grinding are relaxed, without impacting any other areas of the body. Dr. Stante has been successfully providing BOTOX treatment to help with the pain and discomfort associated with Bruxism for years. As our patients have been dealing with the stress from the pandemic and the effects of it, like bruxism, we have seen a rise in our BOTOX treatment as well!
All of this is not to say that the pandemic is solely to blame for any dental problems you may have faced in the last year. The increase in patients with symptoms of bruxism and other stress-related and dental hygiene-related affects highlights the importance of maintaining your dental hygiene routine more than ever!
If you’re suffering from Bruxism and you want to ensure your oral health is at its best, schedule an appointment with our team today.