Teeth Grinding FAQs

Involuntary teeth clenching, grinding, and gnashing are known as bruxism. A little over half of the people occasionally do it. Some people grind their teeth when awake, though it usually occurs while they sleep. Treatment may not be necessary for mild bruxism. But for specific individuals, bruxism can be regular and severe enough to cause jaw difficulties, migraines, cracked or chipped teeth, and other issues.

Here are some often-asked questions about teeth grinding.

What is Teeth Grinding?

Teeth grinding is the chewing motion that causes the teeth to rub against one another. One is said to be clenching teeth when they contract their muscles without biting or grinding their teeth.

What Causes Teeth grinding?

Although anxiety and stress can lead to teeth grinding, it usually happens when you are sleeping and is more likely a consequence of an uneven bite, missing or misplaced teeth, or a combination of factors.

Another factor that could cause it is a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. The exact cause of bruxism is unknown, yet, it may be a combination of genetic, psychological, and physical factors.

What are the Signs of Bruxism?

There are numerous bruxism symptoms that people who grind their teeth experience. Following are the signs:

Headache, jaw pain, ear discomfort.
Teeth pain, often after waking up.
Shortly after waking up, the face and temples may be painful or stiff.
During eating, especially at breakfast, there may be pain or stiffness in the jaws.
When focusing, feeling agitated, or irritated, jaw clenching.
Teeth that react to temperature.
Broken or fractured tooth enamel.
Tongue indentations caused by teeth.
Biting has elevated cheek tissue that is visible on the inside.
Missing teeth.

What are the Treatments for Bruxism?

There are various methods to prevent teeth grinding. These include:

Mouth Guards

To prevent dental damage while you sleep, a dentist may advise using a night guard for grinding teeth or a mouth splint. These tools can be beneficial because they balance out the pressure on the jaw, acting as a physical barrier between the teeth and lessening the grinding noise.

Medication

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) like Ibuprofen may be used to treat any discomfort or swelling due to bruxism.

In some circumstances, a physician may also advise the brief use of a drug to relax the muscles and break the vicious cycle of teeth grinding. This method allows the jaw muscles to relax, which can lessen symptoms.

Botox

In severe forms of bruxism, injections of botulinum toxin, or Botox, can paralyze the muscles that cause teeth grinding in sleep to prevent teeth grinding. Botox can be costly, and repeated injections keep the results in place.

How to Prevent Teeth Grinding?

Self-care techniques may help people with primary bruxism lessen or stop their symptoms. They could try, for instance:

Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and chewing gum, which could exacerbate wear and tear or encourage more grinding
Providing little heat to the jaw to ease discomfort and tension
Lowering avoidable stress and managing inescapable stress

How to Fix Grinded Teeth?

Your doctor can fix worn-out teeth with the use of cosmetic dentistry. A dentist may use a crown, veneer, or dental bonding to fix tooth wear brought on by bruxism.

A Final Word

It is significant to know about bruxism because long-term clenching and grinding of the teeth can harm the jaw joint, gums, and teeth. You can consult with a dentist at Sue Vetter in Seattle for more information and treatment details.

A dentist diagnoses bruxism during a dental exam. The goal of treatment is to lessen tooth damage by using a mouth guard or mouth splint and also to address any potential causes of bruxism.

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