Dentists and researchers aren’t in complete agreement about the cause of nightly tooth grinding (bruxism). But they do agree that it’s partly stress-related.
Since the year-end holidays can be some of the most stressful months of the year, we may be at risk for high stress more than at any other time. The Holiday Season is more than your ordinary daily grind—it’s much more stressful. You can actually lower your body’s stress response by inhaling deeply and exhaling completely. With mouth closed, slowly inhale until you cannot take in more air. Then slowly exhale, until your lungs feel empty.
What you’re doing is increasing the oxygen you take in, which causes you to relax. Try it the next time a stressful occasion arises, and for a few minutes just before bed.
Dr. Andre Azarinfar, a graduate of the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, has over 30 years of experience in dentistry, practicing in Sweden, the UK, Italy, and the U.S. He opened his private practice in California in 1999. Dr. Azarinfar is committed to ongoing education, completing over 100 hours of advanced dental training annually. He specializes in a wide range of areas including esthetic restorative and bioesthetic dentistry, complex full-mouth reconstruction, TMJ diagnosis, and holistic, mercury-free treatments. As a Level IV graduate of The OBI Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry, he focuses on providing functional and aesthetic solutions for patients with bite issues, facial pain, and TMJ disorders. Dr. Azarinfar also has post-graduate education in healthcare management from Harvard Business School and dental operations management, ensuring a comprehensive approach to patient care and practice management.
