Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Solutions to Common Dental Problems

Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Teeth grinding (bruxism) or clenching may occur when you are awake or asleep and you may not even notice it is occurring.  It is often difficult to control or stop.

Teeth grinding can leave you with pain, wear away your tooth enamel, damage your teeth, and cause other signs and symptoms.

What Causes Bruxism

Bruxism is a common condition. Bruxism is mostly caused by underlying factors such as difficulties in sleeping, sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, side effect to some medications, stress, tension, and anxiety. Lifestyle choices can also contribute to the onset of bruxism. This includes consumption of coffee, alcohol, and smoking.

It is important to seek the attention of a dentist and a doctor to determine whether the issue is bruxism or your symptoms may be due to an underlying medical condition.

How Bruxism Can Impact Your Dental Health

Prolonged or intermittent bruxism can have adverse impacts on your general and dental health. This includes:

  • broken, fractured and cracked teeth
  • broken fillings
  • headaches and facial pain
  • worn down or sensitive teeth
  • ear, neck and back pain
  • temporomandibular disorders (jaw disorders) such as tenderness of the jaw.

The tooth grinding wears away the enamel of the tooth. Over time, this will degrade and expose the inner parts of the tooth. The internal dentine becomes exposed. This internal layer of the tooth is soft and sensitive. It is also more prone to bacterial and acid attack which can lead to tooth decay.

Over a pronged period of tooth degradation, the tooth may even fracture. Tooth decay may weaken the tooth and possibly lead to tooth loss.

Treatment of Bruxism

There are a number of treatment options available for teeth grinding.

Depending on your unique situation, a nightguard may help alleviate the effects of teeth grinding during sleep. These devices create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth and can be custom-fitted for your upper, lower, or both sets of teeth.

For protection against the effects of teeth grinding, a custom-fitted nightguard offers the best solution.

A custom-fitted nightguard conforms precisely to the contours of your mouth, ensuring comfort, an ideal fit, and long-term durability. This personalised fit means that when you clench or grind your teeth, the jaw muscles experience less fatigue. Acting as a barrier, the nightguard absorbs the pressure, thereby reducing muscle strain.

If bruxism has caused damage to your teeth, a variety of restorative dental procedures are available to repair the affected tooth and help prevent further damage.

To find out more about teeth grinding or clenching and how we may help you, call our friendly staff at Woodville & Seaton Dental Clinic on (08) 8268 5422 or request an appointment online.

49 Woodville Road

Woodville, SA 5011

(08) 8268 5422

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info@wsdentalclinic.com.au