How Covid-19 stress is causing a rise in bruxism

Stress can cause significant harm to the teeth and surrounding facial structures through teeth grinding as celebrity dentist and expert in the treatment of advance tooth wear, Dr Ahmed Hussein and cosmetic dental surgeon and facial aesthetic trainer, Dr Zainab Al-Mukhtar explain.

Studies have suggested that as many as six million Brits experience bruxism – however, patients are often only made aware that they are grinding or clenching at a dental check-up.

Dr Zainab said: 'I can tell at a glance if a patient is likely to be grinding heavily on their teeth, before even looking in their mouth. They often have enlarged jaw muscles. Clenching and grinding the teeth daily is effectively giving a rigorous, frequent workout for the jaw muscles, which grow in size as a result. Some patients even complain that their widened jaw leaves their face looking larger than they would like and more "square" in appearance. Some women feel this creates a more masculine appearance.