Football Stress May Be Following Fans to Bed, According to the Inaugural DenTek® Football Stress Test

National survey commissioned by DenTek, the #1 OTC dental guard brand for nighttime teeth grinding, finds nearly 8 in 10 football fans keep thinking about the game after it ends, with many reporting stress-related behaviors that extend into bedtime. NFL legends Ronde & Tiki Barber join DenTek to encourage fans to recognize when football stress may be affecting more than just game day.

Football does not always end when the final whistle blows. Findings from the inaugural DenTek Football Stress Test reveal that nearly eight in 10 football fans (78%) continue thinking about football after the game ends, while 77% say they have continued thinking about football after getting into bed. Nearly half have stayed up later than planned because of football, suggesting that for many fans, the game can follow them well into the night. With stress among the most common contributors to nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism), the findings spotlight how football-season stress may have implications that extend beyond game day.

Key Findings

Football Doesn't End at the Final Whistle

Nearly 8 in 10 football fans continue thinking about football after the game ends.

77% have continued thinking about football after getting into bed.

47% have stayed up later than planned because of football.

40% check football scores while in bed.

Today's Football Culture Is Amplifying Stress

60% of football fans say football season is stressful.

43% cite social media as a source of football-related stress.

39% say sports betting makes football more stressful.

Stress Can Follow Fans to Bed

Among fans who say football season is stressful:

39% report feeling anxious.

32% have trouble falling asleep.

21% experience jaw tension or clenching.

69% say they grind or clench their teeth at least sometimes during stressful football games.

Today's football experience extends far beyond kickoff. Between fantasy football, sports betting , around-the-clock injury updates, social media and nonstop group chats, fans have more ways than ever to stay connected to the game. The DenTek Football Stress Test found that only 22% of fans stop thinking about football immediately after a game ends, while nearly half have stayed up later than planned because of football and four in 10 have checked scores from bed. For many fans, the emotional highs and lows don't stop when the game does, with football-related stress extending well into the night. To help bring the Football Stress Test findings to life, DenTek has teamed up with NFL legends and twin brothers Ronde and Tiki Barber, who react to the survey results, weigh in on football's emotional highs and lows, and encourage fans to recognize when football stress extends beyond the game .

While football stress may seem like part of being an enthusiastic fan, the Football Stress Test suggests that it can manifest physically as well. Among fans who consider football season stressful, 21% report experiencing jaw tension or clenching, while 69% say they grind or clench their teeth at least sometimes...