Members of the Saving Teeth campaign have warned dental patients that stress could be impacting on their teeth as well as their general health. Bruxism – grinding or clenching of teeth – affects around ten percent of the UK population, and is known to wear away enamel, fracture teeth, and cause severe jaw problems.

Endodontic specialist, Julian Webber, has spoken about the lack of information about stress related bruxism, saying that people should talk to their dentist if they are having problems with clenching or grinding, particularly at nighttime. Dr Webber pointed out that it was important to stop the process of wear before it gets unmanageable, saying that the average persons tooth is put under enormous pressure as it is, including fractures, fillings, infections, root canals, and other dental procedures. He said ‘If you add stress into the mix and have people with filled teeth clenching and grinding, they can develop a range of problems in their teeth and jaws. I can generally tell the patients who are stressed just by looking into their mouths’.

24th-30th of October is Bruxism Awareness Week, and campaigners are asking people who think they might be suffering from stress-related dental problems to take advantage of the opportunity and ‘talk to your dentist about wear and tear on your teeth and how he or she can help you’.

People should use a mouthguard if they suffer from grinding their teeth.

People looking to stop grinding their teeth have been offered some helpful advice on the matter.

Divine Caroline – an online health and wellbeing publication – has reported investing in a night guard could be a solution for many, as the majority of people grind their teeth during their sleep and are unaware they are doing it until damage has been caused.

However, for the best results people sufferers should consult with a dental professional, as over-the-counter mouthguards often do not fit properly and can cause other problems for users, such as preventing them from sleeping due to discomfort.

Elsewhere, the CNN Wellness blog recently reported not coping with stress properly can lead to real problems with oral health as people tend to grind their teeth more.

It noted that in many cases, people who are stressed do not realise they are grinding their teeth as they do it in their sleep, but this does not mean the damage caused is any less severe.

More people are griding their teeth.

Teeth grinding is becoming a bigger problem as a result of continuing financial problems and stress for patients, it has been claimed.

A survey carried out in the US by the Chicago Dental Society revealed 75 per cent of dentists reported the patients say their level of stress has increased in their lives since the onset of the economic downturn, with 65 per cent of dental health professionals reporting an increase in patients’ jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

The Dental Society noted severe teeth grinding can cause headaches, as well as creating sleep problems and resulting in inflamed gums.

Elsewhere, Cosmetic Dentistry Guide recently reported smokers have been warned that the habit could be damaging to their oral health.

New Jersey emergency dentistry professional Dr Sherzoy, who practices in Bergen County, claimed smoking can cause both tooth and bone loss in the jaw.

He warned the habit can cause bad breath, tooth discolouration and inflammation of saliva producing glands.

People grind their teeth when they least expect it.

People could be grinding their teeth without even knowing it and this could be causing them to have a range of problems including headaches, toothache or a sore jaw.

My Local Health reported bruxism – as the problem is technically known – happens more often than people realise, with many grinding their teeth during their sleep.

Figures from Advanced Dental Care showed a quarter of all people suffer from this condition, with things like stress and anxiety or problems sleeping being major developmental factors.

“Beyond causing discomfort, grinding can eventually damage dental restorations and possibly loosen teeth. It can also cause damage to the temporomandibular joints,” the article noted.

The temporomandibular joints are the ones which connect a person’s jaw to their skull.

Elsewhere, individuals who suffer from sensitive teeth might be pleased to learn that Colgate has launched a new toothpaste designed to tackle this problem.

Its new Sensitive Pro-Relief product contains an active ingredient designed to fill the pores in teeth that lead to nerve-endings, thereby making them less painful.