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:

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:

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:

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.

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