(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Stress believed to be related to the pandemic is leading to an increase in the number of people with cracked teeth because they are grinding them.
Dr. Mollie Rojas, who practices at Shoreline Dental Chicago on North Michigan Avenue, said before the pandemic about 30% of her patients had issues due to teeth-grinding.
“Stress, just in general, is a very big cause of tooth grinding or clenching,” she said Wednesday.
Now, the percentage has risen to 60 to 70%, much of it caused by pandemic-related stress.
Rojas says another possible cause is poor posture due to makeshift workspaces at home. This, too, can lead to teeth grinding, she said.
While addressing the causes can often help, Rojas said some people need to wear mouth guards to protect their teeth from chipping or cracking.
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