2023-05-17 20:45:24
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the illness of millions of people. In addition to infections caused by the coronavirus, the psychological consequences of social isolation, family losses and fear of getting sick have led to an increase in cases of anxiety and depression worldwide. Such psychological conditions can manifest physical symptoms in patients, such as bruxism.
Bruxism is a multifactorial problem – there is not a single cause, but several. Studies suggest that there is a strong relationship with lifestyle. According to the medical literature, people who suffer from anxiety, stress, gastroesophageal reflux, sleep disorders – such as snoring and drooling on the pillow – and concentration difficulties are more likely to develop the problem.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Patrícia de Queiroz clarifies that the symptoms of bruxism are not limited to grinding your teeth at night. “It is a behavior where the individual grinds, squeezes, knocks or touches the teeth involuntarily, and can occur when sleeping (sleep bruxism), being easily identified by the production of sounds; or awake (awake bruxism), manifesting itself mainly in moments of stress”, says Dr Patrícia.
Among the most common effects of bruxism, it is possible to observe the stiffening of the jaw muscles when waking up, giving the impression that the muscles are “hard”. The patient may also experience a popping noise when opening the mouth in the morning, along with persistent headaches, which can range from moderate to severe.
Teeth also suffer from the effects of bruxism. They may show wear at the ends, which may progress to the destruction of part of them. In more extreme cases, fractures can even occur that can lead to tooth loss. In this way, when observing these symptoms, it is important to look for a dentist surgeon for the correct evaluation.
Treatment
Bruxism has no cure but, from the moment it is identified, it can be controlled to avoid more serious damage to the structures involved. “The treatment, in general, consists of the use of an occlusal splint during sleep, aiming to protect the teeth from wear and relief of the local musculature by controlling the region and making jaw movements impossible. Habit changes are extremely important in awake bruxism”, says Patrícia.
The oral and maxillofacial surgeon clarifies that, in the most serious cases, the treatment is carried out with the supervision of professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists and physiotherapists.
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