Understanding & Preventing Tooth Grinding

Teeth grinding (bruxism) may seem like a typical problem, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored. Without help from general dentists, the associated dental health issues can quickly become more severe and complex. Don't wait - get to your dentist today!

Maintaining good oral health is vital to maintaining good overall health, but occasionally things can happen that could harm our teeth without immediate notice. One of these is the habit of grinding one's teeth; while it may only be a minor inconvenience for some, it can cause serious dental issues for others.

You must be aware of the warning signs of tooth grinding and how to prevent it to handle tooth grinding as soon as possible and avoid worse problems from arising. You might be asking at this point why teeth grinding even happens. 

Let's look at some underlying reasons why people grind their teeth and why they might not even be aware of it.

Why Do Some People Grind Their Teeth?

Depending on whether the person grinds his/her teeth when awake during the day or while sleeping at night, there are numerous causes for why someone might do this. As one might anticipate, severe stress and general worry are the two leading causes of teeth grinding during the day. 

Numerous negative physical symptoms of stress and anxiety can include tense muscles, headaches, insomnia, and others. In addition, stress or anxiety can cause our bodies to stiffen up, leading to involuntary jaw clenching that causes the teeth to grind against one another.

On the other side, nighttime teeth grinding is more frequently associated with another dental health problem. The most frequent examples are issues with the bite pattern or missing or misplaced teeth. 

Additionally, a sleep problem like sleep apnea may be connected to nighttime teeth grinding. Sleep apnea happens when airway obstructions, irregular muscle contractions, or a combination of these two cause disruptions in the natural breathing patterns of sleep.

Whether you grind your teeth at night or during the day, certain lifestyle factors, such as consuming too much caffeine, drinking alcohol, and using tobacco, can worsen the issue. 

If any of these are a part of your lifestyle, making changes to lessen or get rid of them cannot only help minimize the risk of grinding your teeth but will also significantly impact your general health and well-being.

How Can You Tell If You're Grinding Your Teeth?

It can take until your next dental appointment, when your dental hygienist or dentist does a full inspection and exam, before you can be sure whether or not you are grinding your teeth, especially at night. However, you should be aware of some warning indicators, which can help you see the risk of teeth grinding early.

The most obvious indication that someone is grinding their teeth is a general discomfort in the jaw or a dull headache, especially in the morning for those who grind their teeth at night. However, constant or regular grinding can cause aches and pains in the jaw, neck, and head as the muscles pressure the teeth and jaw.

Adverse Effects Caused by Tooth Grinding

Even if headaches and soreness are sufficient grounds for seeking tooth grinding treatment, daytime or overnight teeth grinding can have several other detrimental repercussions on one's health. For instance, grinding your teeth can seriously harm any restorative dental treatment you may have had in the past, such as fillings, crowns, bridges, dental implants, etc.

Furthermore, suppose the patient continues to grind their teeth excessively. In that case, the teeth may wear down so quickly and significantly that the patient may need to undergo these restorative dentistry procedures to fix the damage. 

In the worst situations, teeth might become excessively worn, loose, shattered, or cracked, necessitating complete extraction of the affected teeth.

Preventive Measures for Tooth Grinding

These factors make it crucial to take preventive measures to avoid the short and long-term detrimental impacts of teeth grinding. 

Here are several techniques to stop teeth grinding throughout the day or at night and strategies to prevent it from starting in the first place: 

Addressing Sleep Conditions

To treat tooth grinding, the underlying medical issues that cause it must be treated. This process for individuals whose sleep apnea causes nocturnal tooth grinding starts with a sleep examination, during which professionals will look at your typical sleeping habits using a variety of tests and diagnostics. Then, they will suggest a treatment choice to address your sleep apnea based on the results of this analysis.

The most common method of treating sleep apnea involves using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which continuously blows air into a mask that covers your mouth and nose while you sleep. 

Your breathing continues while you sleep thanks to this air pressure, which will prevent the usual stopping and starting and significantly enhance the quality of your sleep. In turn, this will help stop jaw clenching and tooth grinding related to sleep apnea.

Stress & Anxiety Management  

Taking measures to incorporate stress relaxation techniques into your lifestyle is helpful in both cases, as excessive stress and anxiety levels can induce daytime teeth grinding and contribute to sleep difficulties. 

Exercising regularly, getting better sleep, and practicing mindful relaxation techniques are great strategies to reduce stress, but each person should concentrate on what works best for them.

Stress and anxiety can have far more serious consequences than just tooth grinding - but by taking steps to reduce these issues, you're not only protecting your dental health. It's a proactive choice with long-term ripple effects that will pay dividends down the line. 

Wear a Nighttime Mouthguard

Your dentist could advise you to wear a dental mouthguard, especially at night, while other therapies are being used to address the underlying causes of tooth grinding. By relieving pressure and halting the early deterioration of your teeth, night mouthguards protect against tooth-on-tooth contact and minimize the harmful effects of tooth grinding.

Most dental night guards are relatively pleasant to wear and low-profile, so they won't affect your ability to fall asleep. However, you might frequently need to remember you are wearing it.

See Your Dentist Regularly

The best thing you can do to prevent issues associated with tooth grinding is to make sure you're maintaining a regular schedule for dental exams in addition to these other treatments and preventive measures.

In every visit, your hygienist and dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth, looking for any irregularities or early indicators that there might be a problem. Additionally, you should always schedule an early consultation if you think you are experiencing any dental issues, including teeth grinding. Early diagnosis translates into early treatment, which leads to a better result.

Don't Just Live with Tooth Grinding; Book Your Appointment Today! 

It is not acceptable to ignore or tolerate tooth grinding. Contact the River District Smiles staff immediately to schedule your next appointment if you think you are experiencing daytime or nighttime teeth grinding or another dental issue. 

We will be happy to help you and create a treatment plan suited to your requirements. We hope to see you very soon!