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.
There are many signs that point towards possible teeth grinding:
- headaches
- earaches
- jaw aches and pain
- damage to the inside of your mouth from chewing
- sore jaw joints
- sensitivity or toothache from hot or cold food and drinks
- loosened or broken teeth
- tooth loss
- chipped teeth and tooth erosion
- facial muscle pain
- reduced mouth opening
There are many reasons why we clench and grind our teeth:
- Stress and anxiety
- Age
- Medical disorders
- Medications
- Family history
Sometimes, missing or crooked teeth or jaw misalignment can also cause grinding.
Your teeth grinding may also be indicative of a sleep disorder that needs attention such as OSA.
If teeth grinding is left untreated it can cause more significant long term dental issues. The pressure on your teeth may weaken its enamel causing it to flake, chip and break away.
The connection of the lower jaw to the skull is strained which may result in headaches and other associated pain. This is also known as TMJ disorder.
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.