The Damages Of Your Teeth Grinding And How To Fix It

Teeth grinding (or bruxism) is a condition that many people experience where they clench or gnash their teeth together while sleeping. Often the first sign you’ll get that you’re experiencing bruxism is when a partner notices that you are grinding your teeth at night. You could also find that you wake up with your teeth feeling and looking chipped, fractured, loose, or that your enamel is worn down. In severe cases (and if left untreated) bruxism can cause permanent damage, which is why the sooner you fix it the better.

A Long-Term Problem

Many bruxism sufferers experience tooth pain and sensitivity, headaches, neck and jaw pain, earache, and even mild lockjaw. Together these symptoms disrupt your sleep, and as we all know, when you don’t sleep well, you eat less healthily, rely more on caffeine and tobacco stimulants, and are just more irritable overall.

If you suffered from dental problems as a child, or have a narrow face and small jaw, there is a good chance you could develop bruxism – and it can also lead to other sleeping disorders developing such as sleep apnoea and excessive snoring.

Get immediate respite

If you suspect that you grind your teeth in your sleep, and even find yourself doing it during the day, book an appointment with your local dentist right away. Very often dental issues are impacted holistically, so you could find that other medical conditions are making the bruxism worse, or certain medications you’re taking are causing it. In this case, your dentist might refer you to a GP for advice. If they suspect stress is to blame, you could be referred to a psychiatrist or therapist who will help you find ways to manage your stress more effectively.

With mild cases of bruxism, you might be prescribed a mouthguard or dental split to wear in your sleep. More severe cases might require your teeth to be reshaped or rebuilt.

The most important thing you can do is to keep your dentist informed and up to date with all your concerns. The sooner they can identify what the problem is, the sooner it can be treated, and the sooner you can get on with your life.

Contact Carnegie Dental Group today to receive immediate help for your teeth grinding.

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