Ava Barros

Football stress is causing significant oral health issues for fans, with nearly 70% grinding or clenching their teeth during games and 77% ruminating about games even in bed, creating potential bruxism and jaw tension that dental professionals should recognize in their patients. Sixty-nine percent of football fans grind or clench their teeth during stressful games, with symptoms including morning headaches, jaw soreness, and tooth sensitivity.

A new study published in the International Dental Journal found that a composite index combining insulin resistance and abdominal obesity measurements, called TyG-ABSI, is significantly associated with increased periodontitis risk, suggesting that patients with metabolic dysfunction should prioritize their gum health. The TyG-ABSI index combines measures of insulin resistance and abdominal obesity to predict periodontitis risk.

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) has launched Dental Infection Control Awareness Month under the theme "Safety Starts With Every Step," encouraging dental teams to focus on everyday actions that protect patients and staff rather than following a fixed weekly schedule. The campaign, tagged #DICAM26, includes a social media toolkit with platform-ready copy and graphics plus prompts for practices to share infection control wins and encourage patients to ask questions about safety protocols.