Dentists in the Washington, DC area report a surge in patients with damaged teeth, attributing this to increased stress, leading to teeth grinding (bruxism). This trend mirrors a similar uptick during the Covid pandemic. Dentists like Despina Markogiannakis and Atiyeh Emam observe not just dental damage but heightened emotional distress among patients. The long-term effects of bruxism can be serious, leading to tooth sensitivity and pain. Recommended treatments include mouth guards and stress management exercises, reflecting the broader impact of workplace stress in the region.
"When you're carrying stress, the teeth are one of the primary areas where you're quickly going to see that effect," says Despina Markogiannakis, a dentist in Chevy Chase.
"What I've noticed in the past couple weeks is the amount of emotions and uncertainty that people are going through right now," says Atiyeh Emam.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the consequences of tooth grinding, or bruxism, are numerous. In the short-term, patients might suffer from broken, flattened, or loose teeth.
"There's always been an issue with people around here clenching and grinding because of the stress of people's jobs," says Jason Cohen.
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