Teeth Grinding: Why We Grind Our Teeth? (Cary Dental Rejuvenation)

Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, affects around 30 million children and

adults. You may not be familiar with the term “bruxism,” but you‛re undoubtedly

familiar with the behavior. Bruxism is the grinding, gnashing, or clenching of teeth.

Many of us do it without even realizing; in fact, a lot of people do it in their sleep,

which is called sleep bruxism.

Regardless of whether you know the name, it‛s important to understand the

consequences of bruxism and how it can impact your dental health. Bruxers are

found everywhere and while there‛s no real cure, there are ways of preventing

teeth grinding. Grinding or Clenching your teeth may not seem like a big problem, it

can actually cause damage to your smile and makes visiting Dr. Bikram Singh,

D.M.D. at Cary Dental Rejuvenation in Cary NC.

While bruxism is often viewed as a habit, or a result of stress, it can be caused by

other things as well. For example, your teeth grinding can be a result of having a

bad bite, or when your teeth do not line up or come together properly. Bruxism can

also break restorations, cause damage to teeth, and wear away enamel. That‛s why

if you‛re a grinder, it‛s important to visit the Best Cosmetic Dentistry of Cary

NC, Cary Dental Rejuvenation.

Chronic teeth grinding or clenching can not only cause damage to teeth and lead to

tooth sensitivity, it can also be the reason for jaw pain, TMD (temporomandibular

disorder), headaches, and facial pain. But if a lot of people who are chronic

clenchers or grinders don‛t realize they are doing it, how can they tell if some of

their pain is a result of bruxism?

You may be suffering from bruxism if you experience any of the following:

Sleep disturbances. Sometimes, clenching and grinding is so loud that

it can wake up your sleep partner. If your partner often complains

about being woken up by grinding sounds, you are likely suffering from

bruxism.

Jaw pain and tightness. Does your jaw feel sore, tight, or tired?

Have you written it off as a normal part of aging? If your jaw

regularly feels uncomfortable, bruxism could be the culprit behind

your discomfort.

Tooth sensitivity. Does eating ice cream make you wince? Does

sipping hot coffee cause your teeth to feel extremely sensitive? If

so, you might be grinding your teeth at night.

Chronic earache. Is your ear always bothering you? Have you visited

the doctor to check for an ear infection only to find out your ears

look fine? Bruxism can cause ear pain due to jaw muscle contractions–

not a problem with your actual ear.

Worn tooth enamel. If your dentist has mentioned your worn tooth

enamel during routine check-ups, you might be suffering from

bruxism. Worn tooth enamel causes deep layers of your teeth to be

exposed.

Chipped or fractured teeth. Not surprisingly, chronic grinding and

clenching often results in damage to the teeth. If you‛ve noticed that

your teeth are flattened, worn, or chipped, you are probably grinding.

Chronic headaches. Have you been suffering from chronic– and

unexplained– headaches? Are these headaches sometimes

accompanied by face pain? If so, you could be suffering from bruxism.

If you‛re experiencing any of these symptoms, it‛s important to schedule a visit to

our office Cary Dental Rejuvenation in Cary NC as soon as you can. We will

examine your mouth and check your bite. We may also take x-rays of your jaw and

mouth to determine what the cause of your bruxism is. We will then make the best

recommendation to fix the problem. Several treatment options are available and

can include using onlays or crowns to reshape the bite surfaces of your teeth, and

making a mouth guard that fits over your smile and prevents further damage.

Don‛t live with the pain of being a tooth grinder. Putting an end to the clenching or

grinding of your teeth requires an evaluation by our dentist at Cary Dental

Rejuvenation. After an exam, a treatment plan can be implemented. How can you

stop clenching or grinding your teeth? It depends on the cause. Is it due to a sleep

disorder, lifestyle factors or stress and anxiety? It is important to have your

dentist evaluate you with a comprehensive exam and develop a treatment plan that

is specialized for you.

There is no cure for bruxism, but it can be managed. By using a custom night guard,

employing pain management tactics, and strengthening the jaw with exercises,

bruxers can lessen their symptoms and avoid major dental work.

If you are interested in getting an estimate on custom night guards to help stop

teeth grinding, please give Cary Dental Rejuvenation a call 919-460-5454.

Address 155 Parkway Office Court,

Suite 104 Cary, NC, 27518

Visit us at :- http://www.carydentalrejuvenation.com