We’ve all had enough of the flu and coronavirus epidemics, but nature doesn’t want to stop too soon from unleashing its wrath towards us. Dentists are now concerned about another epidemic of cracked teeth that begins to surface. While anybody can have such problems with teeth if they don’t take good care of them, it seems like the world is dealing with the problem at a much larger scale.
Tammy Chen, a prosthodontist (a specialist dentist who has to deal with the replacement of missing teeth and related mouth or jaw structures), said it clear:
“I’ve seen more tooth fractures in the last six weeks than in the previous six years,”
Lack of sleep can crack your teeth
The same dentist explains what could be the cause of the growing number of cracked teeth – stress is an answer, and the pandemic-related anxiety can be another one. Chen further explains about the lack of sleep hitting hard as well:
“Since the onset of the pandemic, I’ve listened to patient after patient describe sudden restlessness and insomnia. These are hallmarks of an overactive or dominant sympathetic nervous system, which drives the body’s “fight or flight” response. Think of a gladiator preparing for battle: balling his fists, clenching his jaw. Because of the stress of coronavirus, the body stays in a battle-ready state of arousal, instead of resting and recharging. All that tension goes straight to the teeth.”
Even the simple fact that someone’s teeth are touching each other while the person is not eating is a sure sign of dental damage. The jaw should be relaxed, having a small amount of space between the teeth while the lips are closed. A good idea is that a person should stop grinding when he or she catches himself or herself doing it.
