A team of researchers has warned that social anxiety increases the risk of bruxism, tooth erosion, and jaw pain.
Tel Aviv University researchers find that anxiety experienced in social circumstances elevates the risk of bruxism, teeth grinding which causes tooth wear and fractures as well as jaw pain.
Team leader Ephraim Winocur said that this is not a dental problem, but one with clear dental consequences, adding that if they are aware, then they can bring it into consciousness. Psychiatrists can identify patients predisposed to bruxism and can try to help prevent it, and dental experts will immediately know what to treat.
The researchers assessed 75 men and women in their early 30s using questionnaires. One group of 40 people had social phobia, characterized by excessive fear in social situations. Just under half of the group members were on antidepressant drugs - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
A control group of 35 did not have social phobia. All the subjects underwent psychiatric and dental exams. Bruxism symptoms and oral habits, such as gum chewing, nail biting, and small jaw movements with no tooth contact "jaw play" were all assessed.
Although antidepressant drugs have previously been linked to bruxism, this study found no association. However, moderate-to-severe dental wear was found in 42.1 percent of the social phobia subjects and 28.6 percent of controls. The rate of jaw play was 32.5 percent in the phobia group and 12.1percent in controls. Symptoms of awake bruxism were reported by 42.5 percent of social phobia patients and by 3percent of controls.
Winocur noted that interaction with people seems to be necessary to trigger bruxism in socially anxious people, adding that by treating social anxiety, they will be able to treat bruxism as well.
The study is published recently in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
