Our general dentist can help reduce the effects of teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. Most people who grind their teeth tend to be unaware of their habit because it mainly occurs during sleep. Grinding your teeth occasionally due to being anxious or stressed out typically does not cause noticeable damage to teeth, but doing it regularly can lead to teeth structures being worn down.
Signs that you might grind your teeth at night include headaches and a sore jaw. It is also a loud habit, so you might get complaints if you share a room with someone. Other symptoms of bruxism include:
Teeth grinding is considered to be an unconscious response to anxiety or stress. People who grind their teeth while awake often do so due to emotional or stressful situations. Some also grind their teeth when concentrating on a task.
Teeth grinding that occurs during sleep is more common than daytime bruxism. It is the body’s unconscious reaction to stress that has carried over from the person's awake state.
Risk factors that can trigger nighttime bruxism include the heavy consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine. Teeth grinding can also be caused by sleep disorders, like sleep apnea. Age is a risk factor because children are more likely to grind their teeth than adults. Most of them grow out of it by the time they reach adulthood, though.
A person’s personality type can also increase their risk of teeth grinding. For example, people with hyperactive, aggressive personalities are more likely to grind their teeth.
Our general dentist addresses teeth grinding by providing patients with a custom night guard that minimizes the forces placed on their teeth while grinding. These devices look like the mouthguards that athletes wear when playing contact sports.
The night guard is made from an impression created when the patient bites down on a mold. The impression is sent to a lab where technicians make oral appliances like nightguards. The process usually takes a couple of weeks.
Wearing a nightguard can significantly reduce the risk of the patient’s teeth being damaged due to teeth grinding. The dentist also helps by educating the patient on how habits like heavy caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco consumption can make teeth grinding worse.
The dentist might also show the patient relaxation techniques that they can perform before going to bed, to reduce any stress or anxiety that might be affecting their bruxism. Teeth grinding can be tricky to treat, but a nightguard can reduce its effects.
Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about teeth grinding, the damage that it causes, and how to reduce its effects.
There are a several reasons that people grind their teeth. It could be due to stress, misaligned teeth, or sleep disorders. It can also be due to unresolved anger or emotional issues. Using recreational drugs can also lead to teeth grinding. If a patient thinks that they might be clenching or grinding their teeth, they should consult with a dentist to find out the cause.
The most common symptom of bruxism is waking up with a headache or sore jaw. The patient might also observe that their teeth feel more sensitive than usual. Teeth grinding can also damage teeth enamel, leading to issues like chipped and broken teeth. This increases a person’s risk of tooth decay because enamel protects the more sensitive layers of teeth.
Over time, tooth grinding can damage the teeth and lead to tooth decay. It can also cause headaches, jaw pain, and earache. Bruxism wears down the teeth over time, and it can flatten their biting surfaces, hindering one's ability to grind down food.
An effective way for a patient to stop grinding their teeth is for them to see a dentist or another healthcare professional, who can help determine the cause of the patient's tooth grinding and offer treatment options. In the meantime, patients should try to avoid chewing on hard objects (like ice or candy) and relax their jaw when they're feeling stressed.
Our general dentist can help minimize the effects of teeth grinding by providing you with a custom nightguard. Call or visit our Houston clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.hermannparksmiles.com or call Hermann Park Smiles at (713) 379-2767 for an appointment in our Houston office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist in Houston, TX.
Visiting the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing event for many people. The biggest reason for this is that general dentistry appointments are often associated with painful procedures and a perceived loss of control as you lay back and let the dentist and dental assistant perform their duties. It might also be possible that you are…
A general dentist can relieve a toothache after a proper assessment. This type of dental problem is often accompanied by swelling. It may even occur with a migraine, fever, or earache. Tooth pain needs immediate treatment. Here are the details on what a general dentist can do for a toothache.Each toothache is different. That is…
During a visit to the general dentistry office, the dental professional will typically emphasize the importance of flossing. If you tend to forget to floss every day or have trouble with the process, you are not alone. The time and effort required to thread the floss between each tooth and remove plaque and food particles…
General dentistry involves preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental treatments like teeth whitening. Teeth are constantly bombarded by substances that cause stains and discoloration, affecting the way that they look.The most common type of teeth whitening treatment performed by dentists involves using bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from the outer surfaces and deep…
Getting a dental checkup is often one of the most critical ways of keeping your…
Getting a dental checkup is one of the essential steps in your oral care routine.…
It might be helpful to discuss any fears and anxieties that you have about dental…
Gum disease treatment is necessary for patients whose tooth decay has progressed enough to cause…
As part of your six-month dental checkup, your dentist will look for a variety of…
Having a dental X-ray is essential at a dental checkup to find decay and other…
