Rise Of Jaw Clenching And Botox In The Pandemic

If you want to avoid thinking about the pandemic — and who can blame you? — this isn't the storey for you. Yes, you may have clicked as a result of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. Or maybe you're just curious and want more information to figure out what's going on in your mouth. In any case, all of the experts interviewed for this storey agreed that stress is a huge factor in both issues, and — you guessed it — studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic increased stress levels for many people.

The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing grinding and clenching conditions. During the pandemic, everyone was anxious, stressed, and clenched their fists more.

How can you tell if you clench your teeth or grind your teeth?

Despite the fact that they frequently go hand in hand, not everyone who clenches their jaw also grinds their teeth, and vice versa. To begin, there are some obvious indicators of how you move your jaw. Grinding usually manifests as changes in the shape and colour of your teeth.

The most common symptom of a grinder is that the back teeth have been ground down to the point where the enamel has worn away. The enamel is white or translucent, and the dentin, the second layer of tooth structure, is yellowish-brown in colour. People who grind severely wear down the enamel, and the discoloration can be seen on the surface of the tooth. They've worn away the enamel, revealing the yellow/brown dentin beneath.

The shape of your teeth could also indicate that you grind. Instead of the tooth appearing round or curved, the grinding motion flattens it and, in some cases, even shortens it. People who clench and grind their teeth have very flat teeth. Teeth are supposed to function similarly to a lock and key. Patients who grind their teeth usually have them very flattened out, and they're also shorter to a lot of people in the front — you can see them getting significantly shorter, and there are little chips.

Huang also mentions that patients who clench their jaws and grind their teeth almost always have microscopic craze lines — the industry term for vertical cracks in the enamel of the tooth — on their teeth as a result. These craze lines are the result of microfracture. It may be fine for 10 to 15 years, but if you bite on something in the wrong place at the wrong time with the perfect timing, the tooth may crack or split.

If you clench your jaw, it could be due to an overactive masseter muscle, which can cause your face to change shape. Patients who clench as a result of an overactive muscle present with a squarish face. The muscle can be seen growing larger on the face over time. It's as if you've been standing on tiptoes all night, and your calf muscles will become more prominent and grow over time as a result of the exercise.

One less well-known issue is how grinding and clenching can harm the gums. Grinding and clenching can result in receded gum lines. This is due to the fact that the tooth's neck is the thinnest part of the tooth. As a result, it absorbs the majority of the stress caused by the pressure that causes the recession. Many patients believe that their bleeding gums or gum sensitivity are caused by brushing too hard, when in fact they are caused by clenching and grinding.

Another sign that you might be grinding? Sensitivity of the teeth. People who are unaware that they grind their teeth frequently present to us, especially in emergencies, claiming to have extreme sensitivity to cold and sweets on their teeth. They also believe they have a cavity. But it's because the clenching and grinding have inflamed the nerves around the teeth, making them extremely sensitive to cold or sweets.

Finally, if you frequently get headaches, talk to your dermatologist about it; it could be an indication that you're clenching or grinding your teeth.

Clenching and Grinding Common Causes

It's critical to see a dentist to determine the underlying cause of your clenching or grinding, which could be overactive muscles, stress, an unstable bite, or even sleep apnea.

If someone has a very square face and we look in their mouth and see that the front teeth are intact but the back teeth are worn, it means that the cause is overactive muscles, which can be caused by stress. They will begin with a type of oral physical therapy, which will include warm compresses and muscle relaxation. If that doesn't work, the next step is to force the muscle to decompress using muscle relaxants or even Botox in Mumbai. This is only a temporary fix, but it keeps the muscles from firing.

Treatment for Jaw Clenching and Teeth Grinding

Returning to the topic of stress, many cases of grinding and clenching are the result of anxiety or nervousness that you can't change about yourself right away. It is determined by your temperament and personality. You can be hypnotised, go to psychotherapy, or drink warm milk before bedtime — but if you're a grinder, you're going to grind.

Try a low-dose Botox injection at your jawline.

Botox is a well-known treatment for clenching and grinding of the teeth. You may have heard of TMJ injections, which aren't entirely accurate. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are conditions that affect the jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joint (or TMJ). Clenching and grinding are not always indicative of TMD.

Masseter injections can be given by a dermatologist. To avoid problems with chewing or smiling, they require precision and extensive experience. Patients like these injections because they not only help with clenching, but they also reshape the face by contouring the jawline. However, it's important to remember that overdoing it with these injections can lead to problems down the road.

I like to be very conservative with the Botox treatment in Mumbai because you are affecting these muscles and preventing them from being as active as they should be. We're talking about teeny-tiny doses administered three times a year. When done correctly and under supervision, there isn't much to be concerned about. However, if you overdo it and use too much or too frequently, you can cause muscle atrophy in the face, just like in any other part of the body.

These injections, like Botox in other areas of the face, do not take immediately, so you will not see immediate results. When it comes to the masseter muscle, I usually tell my patients that they won't see full improvement for two or three weeks. Having said that, it generally lasts a little longer than Botox in other areas. If they want to keep it, I'll ask them to come in twice a year, depending on their needs.

I recommend starting slowly with injections by asking for fewer units than usual, scheduling a follow-up to check in on progress, and asking your dermatologist how frequently and how long they've been injecting.