The pandemic has resulted in a stressful time for everyone in the world, and, for many people, this stress can result in orofacial pain.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine took a look at patients in two countries and examined how the stress of COVID-19 lockdowns may have caused an increase in jaw-clenching, teeth-grinding, and orofacial pain.
Some of the findings from the study by the University of Wroclaw and Tel Aviv University were:
- 12% increase in orofacial pain symptoms
- 15% increase in jaw-clenching
- 26% increase in teeth-grinding
- For those who were already suffering from orofacial pain, there was a 15% increase in severity
- Women were more affected by these increases than men
- Patients in the age range of 35-55 were the most affected
Whether due to concerns over the virus, financial issues, isolation during quarantine, or other situations resulting from the lockdowns, it's evident that problems such as bruxism (teeth grinding) and temporomandibular disorders are increasing during these stressful times.
For those suffering from these issues—including head, neck, and jaw pain, tension headaches, earaches, tooth sensitivity in the absence of a dental problem—help is available. Depending on the specific nature of the problem, these can be relieved with night guards, bite splints, or bite adjustments.
Additionally, we're excited to announce that we are now offering Botox® therapy which can relieve tension in facial muscles. Botox® is one of the most popular wrinkle relaxers and can be used for TMD treatment as an alternative to medication, night guards, or surgery. This injectable can reduce the intensity of muscle contractions or prevent them entirely, providing relief from jaw-clenching and teeth-grinding.
If you believe you are one of the people suffering from pain as a result of this type of stress or would like more information about treatment options, get in touch with our office to take your first step toward finding relief.
Links:
Article:
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/10/3250
Journal of Clinical Medicine
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm
TMJ/TMD/Nightguards
https://babylonsmiles.com/babylon-ny/mouth-guards/
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