An increasing number of cases of teeth-grinding in debt-ridden Ireland were being blamed by dentists on patients’ financial worries.
Dentists believe that the increased levels of bruxism — the medical name for teeth-grinding — are due to stress brought on by Ireland’s economic crisis.
Dr Dermot Canavan of the Irish Dental Association says the condition is often linked to anxiety and stress, as well as excessive smoking, alcohol use and the consumption of too much coffee.
Photo: AFP
照片： 法新社
“While we don’t have exact figures I know from my own practice and from talking to other dentists that there has been a substantial increase in the number of patients suffering from this condition,” he said.
“From talking to patients it is clear many are facing severe financial pressures.”
Experts believe one in five people will grind their teeth at some time, most commonly at night, but dentists here say they are seeing numbers far in excess of that in many surgeries.
The symptoms of bruxism include headaches, tooth damage, earaches, and mouth and jaw pain.
Ireland’s economy has been hammered by the international financial crisis and the government has brought in a series of severe austerity budgets that have slashed spending and increased taxes.
The eurozone member had to seek an 85 billion euro rescue package from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund as massive debt and deficit problems left the country on the verge of collapse.(AFP)
負債累累的愛爾蘭有越來越多的人磨牙，牙醫師則把這種現象歸咎於他們對財務狀況的憂心。
牙醫師相信夜間磨牙症─磨牙的醫學名稱─增加，是因為愛爾蘭經濟危機所致。
愛爾蘭牙醫協會的德莫‧卡納凡醫生表示，這種症狀通常與焦慮跟壓力有關，就像抽菸與飲酒過量，還有喝太多咖啡一樣。
他說，「雖然我們沒有正確的統計數字，但我從自身經驗，以及與其他牙醫師交流得知，苦於這種症狀的病人有明確增加的趨勢。」
「根據我跟病人聊天的結果，確實有許多人面臨嚴重財務壓力。」
專家相信有五分之一的人有時會磨牙，最常見的時候是在夜晚。但是牙醫師表示，他們於許多次門診中，見到實際情形遠遠超出這個數字。
夜間磨牙症的症狀包括頭痛、牙齒損壞、耳朵痛，以及口部跟齒顎疼痛等。
愛爾蘭的經濟遭國際金融危機重創，政府實施嚴重緊縮的預算政策，造成花費驟減稅收提高。
由於龐大的債務與赤字，使該國瀕臨瓦解，因此歐元會員國必須從歐洲聯盟與國際貨幣基金籌足八百五十億歐元（約新台幣三點三兆元）的解救方案。
（法新社／翻譯：吳岱璟）
A: According to reporter Joon Lee’s analysis, what are other reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers made back baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani’s huge contract so quickly? B: Second, a lot of Japanese and global enterprises are eager to benefit from the “Ohtani effect”. . . A: That’s sure to increase the Dodgers’ bargaining chips in negotiations. B: Lastly, all this media coverage is elevating the Dodgers’ brand to a new level, boosting the value of the franchise. A: I can’t wait to see a battle between Ohtani and “Team Taiwan” at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. A: 根據記者Joon Lee的分析，洛杉磯道奇隊和球星大谷翔平的巨約快速回本還有哪些原因？ B: 第二、無數日本和全球企業都想和這股「大谷效應」沾上邊……。 A: 這也增加了道奇在各種商業談判中的籌碼吧。 B: 第三、媒體報導更將道奇的品牌形象推升至全新的高度，使該隊價值水漲船高。 A: 真期待在2026年「世界棒球經典賽」，看到大谷和台灣隊的經典對決！ （By Eddy
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A: Major League Baseball’s 2025 World Series took place last week. The games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays were so exciting. B: As the highest-paid baseball player in the world, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers was an incandescant superstar. A: The Dodgers signed a record-breaking 10-year, US$700 million contract with Ohtani in 2023. As former ESPN reporter Joon Lee analyzed, the team quickly made back all the investment in the player’s first season. B: Wow, how is that possible? A: Firstly, tourism from Japan to Los Angeles has surged by 90 percent since Ohtani signed the deal, with the
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