Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is one of the dental disorders that is caused due to high stress, abnormal bites, anxiety or sleep disorders. Persistent teeth grinding can cause an excess of wear and even fracture your teeth. If you experience dull headaches or sore jaw when you wake up in the morning; then you are a patient of teeth grinding, and must visit a dentist near you as soon as possible.
Causes of Teeth Grinding
There are several reasons for the cause of teeth grinding, but some of the most common reasons include, high stress or anxiety. Individuals with missing or crooked teeth, abnormal bites or a sleep disorder are also victims of this dental disorder. For most people, occasional teeth grinding isn’t a problem, but those who grind their pearly whites on a regular basis could end up with problems.
Is Grinding Your Teeth Bad for You?
Occasional teeth grinding do not normally cause significant damage, but it has been observed that around 10-15 percent of adults experience moderate to severe teeth grinding. Moderate to severe teeth grinding can lead to significant oral problems. Repeated teeth grinding can lead to dental problems such as receding gums and lead to tooth loss that may demand dental treatments such as crowns, bridges, implants or denture. Severe teeth grinding may also impact the jaw leading to TMJ disorders and possibly alter the look of your face.
If you suspect you are grinding your teeth, then here are some steps you can take to reduce pain and protect your teeth;
1. You can ice your jaw muscles to lessen pain
2. You should avoid consumption of hard food
3. You should also limit or restrict the consumption of caffeinated foods and beverages
4. You need to spare time to relax your facial muscles
5. In case of crooked teeth, try braces to correct the alignment
6. If bruxism is because of stress and anxiety, then learn coping techniques to lower your stress.
If you believe that you are grinding your teeth, then you should immediately contact your dentist for the treatment. After a thorough dental examination, your dentist will tell you the level of damage because of bruxism, and based on that, he/she will suggest you the best treatment for teeth grinding like a nightguard.
Nightguard is the most common and comfortable treatment for teeth grinding. The dentist you visit for the treatment of the bruxism may offer you custom nightguard of higher quality that perfectly fits your teeth structure. If you’re concerned that you’re grinding your teeth and need to be evaluated by a dentist, Dr. Jason Favagehi and his team of dentists in Tysons Corner can help. Visit SmilePerfectors at http://smileperfectors.com to make an appointment today!
