Before we get into the blog, we have one quick question: are your teeth touching right now? Bruxism — also known as teeth grinding — is a common dental issue, but what some people don’t realise is the optimal position for your teeth at rest is totally non-interactive. Your top and bottom teeth should not be touching, even while sleeping! In fact, the only times your teeth should touch are when you are chewing or swallowing.
Unfortunately, many people experience too much interaction between their teeth. This can cause a lot of complications such as wearing down of teeth, aches, and sensitivity. There are a number of ways to treat and relieve the associated issues. But first, let’s examine what grinding is, why it occurs, and what it means for your physical and oral health.
What is teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding is the involuntary clenching, gnashing or grinding of your teeth. Grinding typically occurs when people are asleep (sleep bruxism), but it can occur unconsciously in normal daily life (awake bruxism).
Bruxism can vary in its level of severity. At mild levels, it may not require intervention or treatment. However, more frequent and severe issues will require treatment to prevent further damage. In either case, it is worthwhile consulting with a dentist or doctor to discuss your experience and what you may need to do.
What causes bruxism?
There are a number of causes of teeth grinding, caused both by internal issues with your teeth and mouth, or external factors like stress and anxiety. Having an abnormal bite and crooked or missing teeth are the most common causes of bruxism.
Another common contributor is stress. When you are experiencing great hardship or anxiety, you may begin unconsciously clenching your jaw and putting stress on your teeth. Sometimes grinding is cyclical and will ease off once sources of stress are resolved, but this is not true in all cases.
Grinding can also be caused by a sleep disorder like sleep apnoea.
Treatment as early as possible is important to avoid developing significant dental complications. Both dentists and doctors are able to diagnose and suggest treatments, but dental practitioners may be better suited to helping you work through the issues of bruxism.
Signs and symptoms
Because it often occurs during sleep, most people are unaware that they grind their teeth. Waking up with a sore jaw or a dull, constant headache is a sign that you may be grinding your teeth at night. If you sleep close to someone else, they may also be able to hear the sound of grinding.
Other signs include obvious fractured or damaged teeth, cracked enamel, and feeling strain on the jaw joint. Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks may also indicate an issue.
Common symptoms include:
- headaches and shoulder aches;
- pain in the jaw, face and ears, including tenderness in these areas;
- the wearing down and flattening of teeth; and
- cracked, damaged or loose teeth.
Teeth grinding causes pain in a number of areas, typically around the head, which can disrupt daily life and make everyday tasks difficult. Additionally, wearing down can lead to a loss of teeth or fillings, which will require further dental work to fix.
Long term untreated teeth grinding can lead to chronic pain and damage that requires dental procedures. These may include fillings, dental bonding, crowns or dental bridge. It may also lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which relate to pain and compromised movement of the jaw and surrounding muscles.
If you suspect you may be suffering, talk to your dentist. They can examine your teeth and jaw for signs like excessive wear on your teeth or tenderness in your face muscles.
Teeth grinding in children
Children can unfortunately experience teeth grinding as well as adults. It occurs at two primary times: when their baby teeth emerge, and when their permanent teeth begin to come in. Once these two sets have come in more fully, most children will stop grinding their teeth.
The reasons for child teeth grinding are similar to the reasons for adults. Improperly aligned teeth, sleep issues and stress are all common causes. If you think your child is grinding their teeth, take them to a dentist to check for signs of fracturing, cracking and sensitivity.
Treatment options
Thankfully, there are a number of treatments for teeth grinding that can help relieve pain. The most common treatment for teeth grinding is the creation of an occlusal splint by a dentist. An occlusal splint is a clear tray that is moulded to a patient’s teeth to be worn while sleeping. These ensure that if a person begins grinding, it will not be teeth on teeth contact.
These work similar to sports mouth guards, but have a different purpose and design: splints are a teeth protector for grinding specifically. Avoid using sports mouth guards to relieve grinding, and always consult with a dentist before using any sort of guard.
In severe cases, your dentist may need to reshape your teeth or use crowns to repair damage and relieve stress on your teeth. Consulting with your dentist is a necessary step in the process of teeth grinding treatment.
Ways to relieve pain
To reduce teeth grinding, patients should avoid chewing anything that is not food (such as pencil tips or gum). This habit gets your jaw muscles used to clenching. Taking painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen can provide teeth grinding pain relief.
Stress-relieving practices like breathing techniques, mindfulness or regular exercises can lead to reductions in grinding. However, if stress is not the primary cause of your grinding, you may need other treatment and should consult with a dentist about how you can most effectively reduce your grinding.
If your grinding occurs as the result of an associated non-dental issue, like sleep-disorders and reflux disease, or as a side effect from prescription medication, have a talk with your doctor about what you can do for treatment.
Come see us!
Teeth grinding is not as noticeable as some other dental issues or physical conditions, but it can still be highly damaging and lead to long-term health issues. If you are worried that you or your child are experiencing teeth grinding, or you want advice and help to stop grinding teeth at night, book in a consultation with us today. We can examine your teeth and determine the best course of treatment for you.
We love to help you maintain your teeth — contact us today!
