Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth?
You probably don’t think that you clench or grind your teeth (also called “Bruxism”) but we all do it to some extent. When we examine your teeth we can tell immediately if you are a mild, moderate or severe clencher/grinder.
Our teeth are designed to withstand the normal forces of eating and chewing foods. However our jaw muscles can exert a tremendous amount of destructive force on our teeth when we clench or grind. It often occurs completely silently while sleeping at night. It can also occur unconsciously during the day while we are working, playing a sport, or even while driving. Many types of medication can also cause clenching and grinding as a side effect.
Problems caused by Clenching, Grinding & Bruxism
“Bruxism” wears away the outer protective enamel layer of our front and back teeth. Unfortunately this enamel does NOT grow back. Once it is gone, it is lost forever.
Several times a week we will see a patient who has cracked/fractured a tooth as a result of clenching/grinding. Sometimes we can repair it with a filling or a crown but in many cases it cannot be saved and that tooth has to be removed!
Many patients who come to see us with sore or sensitive teeth think that they might have a cavity. The cause is almost always NOT a cavity but it is due to grinding/clenching of their teeth.
Some signs and symptoms of grinding and clenching
- Chipped, fractured, cracked teeth.
- Worn down and short teeth.
- Teeth that are sensitive to cold or hot or sweet
- Pain when chewing.
- Sore or tight jaw muscles and/or jaw joint (TMD).
- Difficulty opening the mouth wide (Trismus).
- Headaches
- Neck pain.
- Whitish markings on the sides of the tongue and cheeks.
- Often a patient has NO pain or symptoms at all and only the dentist will see the signs inside the mouth.
What can I do about my Bruxism?
For many of our patients, one of the easiest and non-invasive things they can do for the long term protection against fracture and tooth-loss is to wear a Night Guard when they sleep.
There are a variety of different shapes, sizes, and materials that we choose from when deciding which type of Night Guard suits a patient’s specific needs.
Does your child grind? – Mom & Dad don’t worry!
Young children can sometimes grind their teeth quite severely and it can even be very noisy causing concern for Mom and Dad. For very young children it really is no concern and quite normal. Parents should not be alarmed and a Night Guard is NOT needed. Children will grow out of this habit however it can return later in life.
