Stressed and Worn Down

More and more people are clenching and grinding their teeth. Here's what to do about it

- Melissa Greer

When my dentist suggested I get fitted for a night guard (a plastic dental appliance), I wasn’t exactly surprised. I had been waking up with headaches and jaw pain, symptoms of teeth clenching and grinding—a condition officially known as bruxism. I knew I was holding a lot of tension in my jaw, but I just popped an ibuprofen in the morning and moved on. But when my dentist noted that I had some gum recession—due to inflammation caused by grinding and clenching—I realized how much damage the habit was causing.

Bruxism is common, especially sleep bruxism, which affects an estimated 16.5 per cent of adults. Experts have seen a surge in patients with tooth and gum damage from clenching and grinding in recent years, particularly during the stressful days of Covid-19 lockdowns.