Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder An example of OCD affecting dental health is the erosion of tooth enamel caused by intense and vigorous brushing. Someone with OCD may feel the urge to brush their teeth with great force and vigor for extended periods of time, harming their gums and scraping away layers of enamel.
Oral habits such as bruxism—compulsive grinding or clenching of the teeth—can be a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. Bruxism also may be a side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)2,3 used to treat OCD4 and depression.
Clenching and grinding can be accelerated by stress and is a common cause for tooth-aches and jaw disorders. The added pressure to your teeth when clenching can cause individual or multiple teeth to become “hyper-aware” to other stimuli like temperature, chewing, and brushing.
Dental anxiety is common and can affect people of any age. Children who have had bad dental experiences in most cases can overcome their fear if the situation is managed well and they are well cared for and supported during further dental visits.
Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a having a compulsion to clean (you may hear this called "obsessive cleanliness disorder"). Mental contamination involves feeling like you've been treated like dirt. Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things lined up in a certain way.
The bottom line
OCD can manifest in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts. Obsessions and compulsions that revolve about contamination and germs are the most common type of OCD, but OCD can cover a wide range of topics.
repeating words in their head. thinking "neutralising" thoughts to counter the obsessive thoughts. avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts.
Dental anxiety is often caused by a fear of the unknown. Patients may notice something on a tooth or on the gums that they are not familiar with, which can cause feelings of anxiety.
Jaw Exercises- Exercising and massaging the jaw will release tension. Mouth Guard- Wearing a mouthguard during the night will reduce or eliminate teeth grinding. Drink Water- Water cushions the bones and teeth because it causes the tissue to swell, therefore, reduce jaw pain and the urge to grind teeth.
Dental phobia is at the top of many people's list of fears. It's called Odontophobia and it's a real fear and it can cause people real problems.
Fear of dental treatment is described in both ICD-10 classification and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV, in specific (isolated) phobias, a subgroup of anxiety disorders [9, 10].
Chronic stress can cause the nervous system to act erratically, causing phantom pain anywhere on or in the body, including the mouth, jaw, teeth, ears, and sinuses. Elevated cortisol, the body's most powerful stress hormone, has been shown to cause gingivitis, which can cause pain in the mouth and teeth.
Sensitive teeth are typically the result of worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. Sometimes, however, tooth discomfort is caused by other factors, such as a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a worn filling, or gum disease.
Ongoing anxiety or stress, or being part of a stressful event like a car accident or starting a new job, could trigger OCD or make it worse. Pregnancy or giving birth can sometimes trigger perinatal OCD.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can affect anyone, but research suggests autistic people may be more likely to experience it. OCD can have a significant impact on a person's life but treatment can help to manage the symptoms.
There are a variety of conditions that have obsessive compulsive disorder qualities that are quite similar to OCD such as PANDAS, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, compulsive skin picking, hypochondria, and olfactory reference syndrome.
Oral anxiety is the stress effects on oral health. Stress or anxiety can impact your oral health; when you are stressed, your immune system is compromised, and while the cause of canker sores is not proven, there is some correlation or higher likelihood between lowered immune and those nasty painful canker sores.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
Doctors don't completely understand what causes bruxism, but it may be due to a combination of physical, psychological and genetic factors. Awake bruxism may be due to emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, frustration or tension. Or it may be a coping strategy or a habit during deep concentration.
According to researchers, anywhere between 50 and 80% of adults in the United States have some degree of dental anxiety, ranging from mild to severe. More than 20% of dentally anxious patients do not see a dentist regularly, and anywhere from 9 to 15% of anxious patients avoid care altogether.
The most commonly prescribed dental related drugs that treat anxiety belong to the “benzodiazepine” family. Drugs such as Valium, Halcion, Xanax, or Ativan. These drugs decrease anxiety by binding and toning down activity within “fear” receptors in the brain.
While both mental health conditions involve repetitive worrying, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often engage in unwanted and repetitive behavior in response to their worry. People with anxiety, however, tend to overthink their worry, but don't act in specific responsive manners.
Presentation. Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD."
The main symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions that interfere with normal activities. For example, symptoms may often prevent you from getting to work on time. Or you may have trouble getting ready for bed in a reasonable amount of time.