How Does Stress Impact Your Mouth and Oral Health? Psychological tension rarely stays confined to your mind. It travels throughout the body, frequently settling in the complex musculature of the jaw and mouth. Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching Stress and teeth grinding, clinically known as bruxism, share a very close relationship. Many individuals unconsciously grind their teeth or clench their jaws during sleep as a physical outlet for daily anxiety. Over time, this intense pressure ...