In a story published by the Chicago Tribune in September of 2020, a dentist reported seeing more tooth fractures in the past six weeks than they had in the last six years. This is not an isolated incident; ever since quarantine began, cases of cracked teeth, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, and migraines have become more widespread across the country. All of these symptoms could point to a problem with the TMJ in Kittanning. Why are all these cases suddenly occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic? In this post, you’ll learn about what could be putting your teeth and jaw at risk as well as what you can do to keep your smile safe and healthy during quarantine.
Causes of Cracked Teeth and TMJ Pain
There can be a variety of reasons why you’re suffering from damaged teeth or jaw pain, but there are several risk factors that can be linked to COVID-19 and quarantine in particular:
- Stress: If you’ve been anxious about your health or as a result of being cooped up for too long, the stress can cause you to unconsciously clench and grind your teeth, leading to all sorts of damage in the long term.
- Working from Home: Your makeshift workstation might include the sofa, a bar stool, or your bed. As a result, you might be hunching your shoulders forward more than usual, and that’s causing your spine to curve. Because the nerves in your neck are connected to your jaw joint, such poor posture can contribute to teeth grinding at night.
- Less Sleep: As an additional effect of the stress that COVID is causing, many people are growing more restless at night, and insomnia is becoming more widespread. The body stays in a tense state instead of resting, and the jaw suffers from the brunt of the pressure.
How Can You Protect Your Teeth?
Your dentist in Kittanning can repair broken teeth and relieve jaw pain, but it’s obviously better if you can avoid these problems altogether. Here are some steps you can take to protect your grin:
- Be aware of the state of your mouth when it’s at rest. If your jaw is relaxed, there should be a bit of space between the teeth when the lips are closed.
- Ask your dentist for a night guard or retainer. These devices are normally worn at night, but you can also keep them in during the day for added protection.
- Reevaluate your home workspace. Make sure you have a proper chair to sit in, and keep your computer screen at eye level.
During a consultation with your dentist, you can discuss other possible causes of jaw pain and what you can do about them. Don’t let the pandemic take away your healthy smile!
About the Author
Dr. Ray Voller has provided Kittanning families with excellent dental care since 1980. Among his various interests in dentistry, he quite notably enjoys treating TMJ disorders and helping patients enjoy pain-free lifestyles again. If you’re concerned with the impact that quarantine might be having on your teeth, schedule an appointment at Voller Dentistry by visiting his website or calling (724) 543-4948.