Britons have been advised on the dangers of grinding their teeth.
Bruxism – the technical term for teeth grinding – can lead to broken sleep patterns, which in turn can lead to degenerating health.
However, a dental surgery in Hull is testing a new device which provides mild electric shocks to patients in order to stop them grinding their teeth while they sleep.
Dr David Vivian, the dentist trialing the device, said: "The broken sleep pattern caused by grinding can exacerbate any stresses or worries already being felt by the patient and add an extra layer of anxiety to their lives."
Elsewhere, Cosmetic Dentistry Guide recently reported researchers from the University of Otago, New Zealand, have published a study showing individuals who are stressed could have poor oral health.
It noted that anxiety of dental procedures could lead to larger problems in the future, as avoiding treatments could mean a small problem becomes a bigger one, leading to a trip to the emergency dentist.