Across the country, stress has been increasing due to the COVID-19 crisis. This can have impacts on both body and mind. It can especially have impacts on those people that have TMJ disorders. Dr. Brock W. Hyder, a dentist in Payette, ID, discusses what those with TMJ disorders should keep an eye out for.
Increased Pain and Headaches
With more stress comes a tendency to grind and clench the teeth more. Even if you have a nightguard to help with it at night, you may catch yourself doing it during the day. With this comes the likelihood of more pain. Your jaw, face, and ears may have more pain. You might have more headaches as well. If you can, try to consciously keep your jaw relaxed throughout the day to keep the pain as low as possible.
Issues With Jaw Function
More stress can also mean more problems with the function of your jaw. You may notice issues with speaking or chewing, along with popping and clicking noises. There can be pain and difficulty opening and closing your jaw.
With isolation and businesses being closed or limited, it can be hard to get the full treatment you need for your TMJ disorder symptoms. To help ease the symptoms, there are massage techniques and exercises you can look up to try at home. If you’re isolated with a roommate, family member, or partner, they may be able to help you out.
Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Teeth
More pressure and wear and tear on your teeth means there’s more of a chance of chips, cracks, and breaks. These can range from harmless cosmetic chips to a more severe crack or break. A break can expose the tooth pulp, leading to a lot of pain. A severe crack opens up your tooth to bacteria, therefore opening it up to the potential for tooth decay as well.
If a severe break or crack happens, we would consider that a dental emergency. Even during the pandemic, we’re open for emergency dentistry for patients of record. Call us immediately so that we can get you into the office as soon as possible.
Your Dentist in Payette, Idaho
We’re here for you throughout the pandemic if you suffer from a dental emergency. After the pandemic is over, you also want to make sure that stress hasn’t impacted your smile. We’ll be here for a checkup to make sure that everything is okay. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future. We hope we’ll see you soon!