Stress-Induced Jaw Pain. Dental Health Associates of Madison, WI.

Stress-Induced Jaw Pain

People suffering from regular pain in the jaw may not realize that their symptoms could be stress induced. In fact, stress-induced pain is a widespread problem and can have big implications for long-term dental health. At Dental Health Associates, we strive to offer comprehensive pain treatments for your jaw that include both dental care and tips for stress management to reduce recurring pain flare ups.

Teeth grinding

One of the most common causes is bruxism, or teeth grinding. If you frequently find yourself grinding your teeth when stressed, or even just clenching your jaw muscles, it can lead to pain over time. Many people are unaware that when they go to sleep, they continue to grind their teeth through the night. It is difficult to treat a problem when it is happening without your knowledge, but there are several ways that you can improve your sleep to reduce stress as well.

Another method of reducing dental damage and reducing stress-induced pain is to wear a mouth guard at night. These guards prevent your teeth from actually grinding against one another, and give them a softer pliable material to bite into if you are clenching your jaw. Mouth guards can be fitted or come in a range of standardized sizes, and they are an inexpensive way to reduce jaw pain in the short term for many people.

Proper rest

Sleeping in a non-stressed position is also highly important to reducing overnight teeth grinding. There are many companies that now offer specialized pillows to keep your head and neck in a neutral position while sleeping to prevent stress on your jaw. Many people don’t realize that their pain can also lead to pain that travels down the neck and can even cause headaches and migraines. Proper sleep positioning can reduce pain in all of these areas, while also being an asset to dental health.

People who do experience stress-induced pain should make regular appointments with their dentist for cleanings and inspections. If your teeth begin to show drastic signs of wear or decay, it will not take long before you begin to feel pain in your jaw. Once decay has set in, the damage caused by bruxism may be even worse as the teeth are already weakened.

If you are experiencing stress-induced pain in your jaw caused by grinding of the teeth or clenching of the jaw, seek out a dental health professional for assistance with reducing the damage that is being done to your teeth. At Dental Health Associates we will work to keep your teeth healthy, while also offering solutions so that you can get a good night’s sleep without worrying about how your jaw will feel in the morning. Stop in at any one of our Dane County locations nearest you.

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