---
title: "Americans’ Teeth Are Cracking in Huge Numbers"
description: "Americans are having a rough time during the pandemic with anxiety and other mental disorders at an all time high, leading to teeth grinding and jaw pain."
date: "2020-09-08"
modified: "2020-09-08"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/americans-teeth-cracking-huge-numbers"
categories:
  - "Developments"
  - "Health & Medicine"
tags:
  - "coronavirus"
  - "covid19"
  - "teeth"
---

# Americans’ Teeth Are Cracking in Huge Numbers

![Americans are having a rough time during the pandemic with anxiety and other mental disorders at an all time high, leading to teeth grinding and jaw pain.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/americans-teeth-cracking-huge-numbers.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

Americans are [having a rough time](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/cdc-study-mental-health-study-pandemic>) during the pandemic, with anxiety and other mental disorders at an all time high.

And all the stress is leading to far more teeth grinding, resulting in a huge uptick in jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, and migraines and cracked teeth, according to a recent [*New York Times* piece](<https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/well/live/dentists-tooth-teeth-cracks-fractures-coronavirus-stress-grinding.html>) by Manhattan-based dentist and prosthodontist Tammy Chen.

Chen's dental practice is busier than ever, she wrote, despite the lockdowns and quarantine measures.

"I’ve seen more tooth fractures in the last six weeks than in the previous six years," Chen recalled telling a friend.

The fractures and jaw pain are likely a complex consequence of a massive increase in societal stress about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. That stress can often lead to a clenched jaw and teeth grinding, which, if left unchecked, can result in permanent damage.

Adding to the problem, according to Chen, could be awkward body positions while working from home, which could be leading to pinched nerves in the jaw of many patients.

Piling on, she suspects, could also be a lack of restorative sleep. Insomnia can lead to clenched jaws and more pain and tooth damage.

To remedy this, Chen suggests to try to be more aware of the fact that your jaw should be relaxed. She also suggests wearing night guards or retainers, if you have one, during the day.

Finally, a proper work station could work wonders in ensuring that your jaw isn't in an awkward position for many hours during the day.

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)