PTSD Triples Odds for Teeth Grinding, Study Finds
PHOTO: Yueke
Key Takeaways
People with PTSD have over three times the likelihood of grinding their teeth while awake.
Dentists treating teeth grinders should consider underlying psychiatric conditions.
PTSD sufferers also have higher chances of experiencing increased dental pain.
PTSD Significantly Increases Teeth Grinding and Dental Pain, Study Finds
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more than three times as likely to grind their teeth, a condition known as bruxism, according to a new study. This research, involving 76 Brazilian adults—38 with PTSD and 38 without—revealed a significantly higher incidence of daytime teeth grinding among those with PTSD.
"Our study showed that PTSD can manifest orally in the form of bruxism and heightened pain following dental exams," said Dr. Ana Cristina de Oliveira Solis, the study's lead author from the University of Sao Paulo. She emphasized the need for collaboration between psychiatrists, psychologists, and dentists to effectively screen and treat both PTSD and associated oral health issues. These findings were recently published in the journal Clinical Oral Investigations.
The researchers noted that between 8% and 30% of people habitually grind their teeth while awake. While PTSD's psychological manifestations, such as flashbacks and nightmares, are well-documented, its impact on oral health has been less studied.
Participants underwent examinations to assess their dental and gum health. "Oral hygiene was not associated with the problem," Solis explained. The study found that both PTSD patients and the control group had similar levels of oral health. However, those with PTSD experienced more pain after dental probing.
This suggests that bruxism and increased dental pain could be indicators of underlying psychiatric issues like PTSD. Therefore, psychiatric screening should be part of routine dental care, and patients should be encouraged to seek mental health support if these symptoms arise. Similarly, psychiatrists diagnosing PTSD should recommend dental consultations if patients report bruxism or jaw pain.
