The Impacts Teeth Grinding Has On Oral Health

Causes of Teeth Grinding

Grinding your teeth is medically known as bruxism. Teeth grinding can happen at any time of the day and affect people of all ages. This can be caused by an abnormal alignment of the teeth, stress, anxiety, smoking, caffeine intake and heavy alcohol consumption. Teeth grinding most often occurs unconsciously during your sleep, which is why you might be unaware if you are doing it. Teeth grinding at night can be a direct result of a sleeping disorder such as sleep apnea.

Implications of Teeth Grinding

Grinding your teeth at night keeps you from having a deep sleep, which is when the body repairs itself and restores the energy for the day ahead. It also helps maintain your body health, stimulating growth, boosting the immune system, and repairing damage to muscles and tissue.

In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. Teeth can become worn down, chipped, and have a loose of tooth enamel. Work that has already been done on the teeth can become damaged.

Teeth grinding can leave you questioning why you are experiencing a dull, constant headache, or sore jaw when you wake up. Other pain can include facial pain, or pain in front of your ear.

Tips to help stop teeth grinding:

• Cut back on coffee, smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Do not chew gum or on any other objects that are not food.
• If you notice you clench or grind your teeth during the day, consciously relax the face and jaw throughout the day.
• Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
• Pick up habits to reduce stress that you are experiencing.

How professionals can treat teeth grinding

Custom-fitted mouth guards are the most effective treatment to prevent wear and tear on the teeth. Having a mouth guard customly made to the mold of your teeth will provide the greatest comfort.

If your teeth grinding is related to dental issues, your dentist can fix the issue by either surgery or putting crowns on the teeth. Your dentist can also prescribe a muscle relaxant to alleviate the tensing of the muscles.

Do you think you are suffering from grinding your teeth?

Visit your local Smilist in Wantagh where you can get the treatment and help needed. Our multiple locations across Long Island have top-rated dentists whose number one priority is to provide excellent patient care.