

These might include avoidance behaviors, which arise when a person finds ways to avoid anxiety triggers. a feeling of dizziness or lightheadednessĪnxiety can also manifest in behavioral symptoms.Anxiety symptomsĪside from jaw tension and tension in other parts of the body, anxiety disorders have various cognitive and physical symptoms. If someone notices themselves doing any of the above, they could have jaw tension. grinding the teeth when asleep or awake.Some of these symptoms are possible results of increased jaw tension. Jaw tension symptomsĪ 2021 study investigated disorders of the mouth and jaw, documenting the symptoms of 537 people. However, some symptoms, including those resulting from jaw tension, are more common than others. It usually occurs during sleep, but some people may clench their teeth or tighten the muscles in their jaw when awake.Ī 2020 review of research found that there is a significant association between bruxism and people experiencing stress.Īnxiety can present differently for different people. Bruxism is when a person clenches or grinds their teeth when not chewing. The authors conclude that there is a clear association between higher self-reported anxiety levels and increased tension in the masseter muscles.Ī 2019 study also identifies state and trait anxiety, stress, and alexithymia - the term for difficulty expressing and identifying emotions - as important psychosocial factors in predicting bruxism. The researchers measured the students’ masseter muscles, the facial muscles responsible for chewing, and compared those measurements against self-reported anxiety levels. There is some scientific evidence that jaw tension, which arises when a person’s jaw muscles contract excessively, could be a symptom.įor instance, a 2020 study investigated the relationship between anxiety and jaw tension in 113 dentistry students. This might involve overestimating the likelihood or severity of a perceived threat, which can lead to unhelpful thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.Īnxiety can produce a range of symptoms.

Someone who has an anxiety disorder will experience this mood under inappropriate circumstances. Healthcare professionals define anxiety as a “future-oriented mood state” associated with preparation for anticipated threats. Share on Pinterest Martina Ferrari/EyeEm/Getty ImagesĪnxiety disorders range from specific phobias to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
