Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can occur due to many reasons. Common causes are an abnormal bite, missing or crooked teeth and stress.
Often people have no idea they are grinding their teeth since it commonly happens during sleep. If grinding goes unnoticed for a long time, it can lead to severe damage and pain. The earlier you identify the problem, the faster you can protect your teeth against grinding.
Because teeth grinding or clenching of the jaw often occurs during sleep, you may not realize the damage you are doing. That said, there are signs of grinding.
These include:
Many people do not realize they grind until a friend or family member tells them. If a loved one says you bite your teeth during sleep, you may be grinding.
Teeth grinding can damage teeth when left untreated. The constant grinding wears down the teeth and can lead to fractures and even tooth loss. However, your teeth are not the only thing that suffers.
Grinding affects the jaw and can cause problems in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This condition can lead to painful chewing, popping noises and stiffness in the jaw.
The constant grinding, wearing of teeth, stress on the jaw and tooth loss can significantly change the facial structure as well.
Bruxism is medically and aesthetically harmful. It is a disorder that needs to be addressed by a dentist.
Teeth grinding is a symptom of another condition. Once you identify the cause of grinding, your dentist can recommend the best way to treat it.
Clenching teeth while awake may often be emotional and require coping strategies, relaxation or counseling. When the grinding occurs during sleep, it is important to be tested for a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.
No two people are alike, so there is not a single solution for grinding.
Simple treatments can include stress management, changing sleeping habits and learning relaxation techniques. For medical issues, you may need braces to correct an improper bite or other dental problem.
In the meantime, ask your dentist for a mouth guard to wear while sleeping. This will not stop the grinding, but it can protect your teeth from damage. Learn to relax before bed and pay attention to anything that may be causing stress.
Teeth grinding can ruin a perfect smile. While you can find ways to manage your stress at home, seeing a dentist for evaluation is one of the best ways to treat this bad habit.
Call our office and schedule an appointment. The dentist can work with you to find what is causing the grinding and develop a treatment plan to keep your smile safe.
Request an appointment here: https://www.tucsonazdentistry.com or call Advanced Family Dentistry at (520) 353-3002 for an appointment in our Tucson office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Wisdom teeth are late-stage molars. When they emerge from the gums and squeeze by your existing teeth, in a process known as impaction, they may cause a lot of pain. Impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes cause jaw alignment issues, sinus issues, recurrent cavities, and cysts.Some individuals are lucky enough to avoid such wisdom tooth symptoms…
The term All-on-4® refers to a more convenient alternative than conventional dentures. It involves installing dental implants into the patient’s jaw to serve as the base for a special type of dentures that are fixed in place.Traditional dentures are the most affordable way to replace missing teeth, but they have issues like poor stability. This…
Want to know exactly what having dental anxiety means? This term is used to describe any apprehension someone has when in a dental setting, which can happen before, during and even after going to a dental office. According to the American Dental Association, whatever your reason, the right dental team will make sure your dental…
An article by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare states that more than 18 million people wear partial dentures. Anyone who has been considering getting partials to improve their speech, ability to chew, and even their appearance is not alone. It helps to have the proper information beforehand, though. Partials are created from a wide variety of materials, each…
Contrary to common opinion, wisdom tooth extraction is not always required.
Getting All-on-4 requires minor oral surgery, so patients should be healthy enough to recover.
According to the American Dental Association, whatever your reason, the right dental team will make…
Frequent checkups are also an essential part of proper denture care.
Finding out more about dental implants will allow you to make a tooth-replacement option that…
It is important to avoid rubbing any tissues on the tooth, as this can be…