Have you or your loved one experienced teeth grinding? Most people are unaware of having any grinding habits because grinding your teeth usually happens when one is asleep. If you suspect that you or your loved one has a problem with grinding their teeth, preventive measures can help.
To learn more about the specialty dental treatment options available to you, contact Lovett Dental Webster today at 832-932-5584.
What Is Teeth Grinding?
Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is when your teeth scrape together. It’s not dangerous to your dental health when you do it occasionally. However, regular occurrences of grinding your teeth can lead to chronic bruxism and dental health problems.
Both adults and children can experience grinding from time to time. For adults, stress and anxiety can cause teeth grinding. For children, the appearance of their first baby teeth may have caused their problem.
Causes of Bruxism
The way you deal with your day-to-day events play a significant role in bruxism. It is often through grinding that people find a release in the pressure they feel from their daily lifestyle. The leading causes of bruxism are still unknown to dental professionals, but they mainly assume it’s associated with these factors.
Lifestyle Habits
Smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and recreational drugs are external causes that can result in you grinding your teeth. While alcohol and caffeine intake can disrupt regular sleeping patterns, recreational drugs can cause you to grind as a side-effect of the drug.
Stress and Anxiety
Emotional stress from tests, deadlines, loss of loved one, and other circumstances can lead to regular teeth grinding. You may grind your teeth to relieve the stress and anxiety you feel from external factors. Fortunately, there are stress management practices to help reduce this problem.
Sleep Disorders
Bruxism often happens when you’re asleep, so it’s difficult to know if you have this problem. If you have sleep disorders, the chances are that you likely grind your teeth. Snoring, sleep talking, and sleep apnea (pausing in between breaths) are examples of sleep disorders that can trigger teeth grinding.
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
There are mild symptoms of bruxism that can be considered a sign that you need a dental emergency check-up. Waking up with a sore jaw and headache is one such sign. Also, having a tooth chipped or damaged can indicate that you grind your teeth grind and visit a dental professional.
Common symptoms of teeth grinding include:
- Facial pain
- Earache
- Stiff jaw joints
- Disturbed sleep
- Sensitive tooth (a strong reaction to hot and cold food or drinks)
- Toothache when you wake up
- Loose, cracked, or chipped teeth
Ask your sleeping partner whether you make snoring or grinding sounds during sleep. If symptoms persist, it’s best to seek treatment from a dental professional.
Seek Bruxism Treatment
Teeth grinding may seem mild at first, but it could develop into severe problems without effective bruxism treatment. Regular teeth grinding can cause damage to the teeth and might even shrink your teeth. This may lead to loose, fractured, or damaged teeth, indicating a sign of chronic grinding.
Lovett Dental Webster offers dental treatments to alleviate teeth pain and prevent problems from getting worse. Dentists can examine your jaw and teeth for damage and give you a treatment plan for relief.
Available treatments at Lovett Dental Webster include:
- Pediatric dentistry techniques
- Periodontics
- Orthodontics
- TMJ treatment options
- Preventive dentistry
Find Preventive Measures and Treatment
A dental professional can best assess whether or not you have bruxism or need help to stop teeth grinding. Even if you do not currently have problems grinding your teeth, suggested preventative measures can help maintain your dental health.
Contact the dental professionals at Lovett Webster Dental at 832-932-5584 to discuss your dental health and treatment options.
