Teeth Grinding – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

People usually clench and grind their teeth from time to time. Grinding your teeth rarely, do not cause any damage, but when teeth grinding become a habit, the teeth can be damaged and many other dental complications may arise.

Why Do People Grind Their Teeth?

The main cause of teeth grinding can be anxiety and stress, but when it occurs during your sleep, it may be caused by missing or crooked teeth or an abnormal bite. It can also be caused due to sleep disorder like sleep apnea.

How Do You Find Out if You Grind Your Teeth?

Teeth grinding often occur during sleep; hence most people are unaware that they grind their teeth. However, if you experience sore jaw or constant headache when you wake up is a symptom of teeth grinding. Most people come to know that they grind their teeth by their loved one who hears the grinding at night.

If you suspect that you may be grinding your teeth, then talk to your dentist in Parramatta. Your dentist can examine your mouth and jaw for signs of teeth grinding such as excessive wear on your teeth and jaw tenderness.

Why Is Teeth Grinding Harmful?

In various cases, teeth grinding can result in loosening, fracturing, or loss of teeth. The chronic teeth grinding may wear teeth down to stumps. Due to this habit, bridges, implants, partial dentures, root canals, crowns, and even complete dentures may be required.

Severe grinding can not only damage your teeth, but may also result in tooth loss. It can also affect your jaws, and even change the appearance of your face.

What Can Be Done to Stop Grinding Your Teeth?

Dentist in Parramatta can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding during your sleep. If any sleeping disorder is the cause for teeth grinding, then treating it may reduce or eliminate your grinding habit.

Few tips to help you stop teeth grinding include:

• Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine, including chocolate, colas, and coffee.
• Avoid alcohol. Teeth grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.
• Do not chew on pens or pencils or anything that is not food.
• Avoid using chewing gum since it makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
• Train yourself not to grind or clench your teeth. If you notice that you grind or clench during the day, then position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice helps your jaw muscles to relax.
• Relax your jaw muscles during sleep by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.

If stress is the cause grinding your teeth, then ask your dentist or doctor about options to reduce your stress. Seeing a physical therapist, attending stress counseling, starting an exercise program, or obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants are some of the options that may be offered.

The author of this article is an experienced dentist in Parramatta, who is committed to offering teeth whitening, dental implants, root canal treatment and more. To know more, visit parramattagreendental.com.au