The Connection Between Bruxism and Mental Health: the Psychological Impact

Facial pain after experiencing sleep bruxism, Credit: Hope Connolly on iStock

A prevalent disorder plaguing a large percentage of the population, unbeknownst to them, due to its most common occurrences taking place when one is in an unconscious state of mind. This disorder is also known as bruxism, the oral movements characterized by the gnashing and/or grinding of teeth. Besides the difficulties in self-assessment for the disease, diagnosis and treatment from health professionals can also pose great inconveniences to an individual’s daily life, which raises a question: how can we prevent bruxism from developing? In order to avoid further risks of the oral parafunction, we must understand its causes and explore the potential links it may have to the aftereffects of our regular activities, including a person’s mental state.

What are the links between Bruxism and Mental Health?

Generally, the oral disorder might seem negligible, with common symptoms being a sore jaw and difficulty in mastication of food, however, with slight changes in the psychological variable the disorder may reach a critical position. The interrelation between bruxism and an individual’s mental state lies in the presence of mood disorders.

This psychological variance in the population has been severely associated with a higher frequency of symptoms for bruxism can drastically increase the chances of developing it within an otherwise healthy individual. Aside from the development of the disorder, heightened negative emotions can also encourage progression of the disease to a point of extremity, which may eventually lead to the appearance of alarming consequences, such as bleeding gums, hearing loss and temporomandibular joint disorder. A few examples of mood disorders prone to triggering the appearance of bruxism are:

Anxiety: The presence of increased stress within an individual’s life is known to stimulate certain mannerisms and habits to surface, for example, dry mouth and canker sores. Unfortunately, the chances of developing a habit for involuntary teeth grinding is also magnified during periods of enhanced anxiety and stress.
Depression: Emotional distress can also further heighten the symptoms of bruxism. The stress experienced can contribute to the increased muscular tension in the facial area, causing them to grind their teeth without realizing. Although the exact causal relationship between the two aspects cannot be determined, scientists have found a link between a higher occurrence of bruxism and individuals with depression.

On the other hand, there are also other disorders which may influence the risk of bruxism development, which, although are not mental disorders, have a form of correlation to the psychological state of a person. These include:

Sleeping Disorders: Alternatively, the sounds created from the grinding action of the teeth can drastically affect sleep quality, which, if occurring excessively, may damage the mental state and result in the development of the latter mood disorders, as well as bruxism further along the line.
Eating Disorders: A connecting factor between this disorder and mental variations is the factor of stress involved. The gnashing of teeth can result in enamel wear of the tooth which may already be weakened due to exposure to stomach acid from vomit, hence increasing the chances of tooth erosion, making individuals with eating disorders significantly more vulnerable.

What are the treatments for Bruxism?

Following the diagnosis of bruxism, one may feel confused as to the possible methods they could implement in order to intercept any further development of the disorder. Unfortunately, due to the negligible impression in the earlier stages of the disorder, the vast majority of the population hesitate or avoid making an appointment with a health professional. There are several treatments available, which might not be known to the general public, for instance:

Stress or Anxiety Management
Mouth guards
Muscle relaxants

We can conclude that in order to prevent the oral parafunction emerging, not only do we have to maintain good physical health, but we must also monitor and take precaution of our personal emotional well-being. As individuals, it is essential to take care of our oral health and inhibit the development and/or progression of bruxism, as well as any other dental diseases, in order to sustain a healthy lifestyle.

References

Colonna, A., Thomas, D.C., Thao Thi Do and Manfredini, D. (2024). Sleep Disorders Affecting Prognosis of Dental Treatment. Dental Clinics of North America. [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2024.05.002.‌
Sutin, A.R., Terracciano, A., Ferrucci, L. and Costa, P.T. (2010). Teeth grinding: Is Emotional Stability related to bruxism? Journal of Research in Personality, [online] 44(3), pp.402–405. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2010.03.006.
Smardz, J., Martynowicz, H., Wojakowska, A., Michalek-Zrabkowska, M., Mazur, G. and Wieckiewicz, M. (2019). Correlation between Sleep Bruxism, Stress, and Depression—A Polysomnographic Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(9), p.1344. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8091344.