Bruxism - Grinding Your Teeth

Monday 23rd May 2016

Most people have to struggle with their partner's snoring, but the noise of grinding teeth can be equally as disturbing. Waking up every morning with a headache or an inexplicable pain in your jaw creates nervousness and often a bad mood in the morning which cannot necessarily be fixed by coffee. Luckily, there are ways to deal with this.

Bruxism

Grinding your teeth otherwise known as bruxism, is the involuntary grinding, clenching or chewing during the day or night. While mild bruxism may not cause serious harm and does not require treatment, frequent and severe bruxism can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and various other problems.

If you are grinding your teeth on a regular basis you can cause serious problems, up to the point that your teeth become worn down to the gums. In this case you will need complex and potentially quite painful dental work such as bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, and even dentures to fix the damage.

Can it be Stopped?

If your grinding is caused by stress, one of the best ways to deal with it is to talk to your physician and see if there are options which can help reduce your stress level. If it is caused by a sleeping disorder, treating the source could be the solution to curing it. If nothing is working for you, then your dentist can fit a mouth guard to protect your teeth during the night.

If you believe you might be grinding your teeth but can't be sure, call your dentist and make an appointment. They can check your jaw for tenderness and your teeth for wear caused from grinding and determine if you need to take further steps in treating it.

It is a serious problem but not one that you need to worry about, or you will grind more! Just ensure that, if you think it is an issue for you, to deal with it straight away.