{"id":902,"date":"2019-06-05T23:39:49","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T23:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/the-dangers-of-chronic-teeth-grinding\/"},"modified":"2019-06-24T16:04:33","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T16:04:33","slug":"the-dangers-of-chronic-teeth-grinding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/the-dangers-of-chronic-teeth-grinding\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers Of Chronic Teeth Grinding"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

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GRINDING OUR TEETH<\/b> briefly when we\u2019re nervous or frustrated is pretty normal. When the grinding doesn\u2019t stop, however, it can do a lot of damage, whether it happens during the day or while we\u2019re asleep. This kind of chronic grinding is called bruxism.<\/p>\n

What Causes Teeth Grinding?<\/h3>\n

While daytime bruxism can be the result<\/a> of stress and sleep bruxism is often associated with sleep apnea or snoring, you don\u2019t need stress or a sleep disorder to have a teeth-grinding habit (and vice versa).<\/strong> It could be because of missing or improperly aligned teeth, or a bad bite.<\/p>\n

Certain factors can predispose someone to bruxism.<\/strong> These include anxiety and stress, age (children are more prone to grinding than adults), antidepressants (including prescription drugs, tobacco, and alcohol), a family history of bruxism, and other disorders like Parkinson\u2019s disease, ADHD, and GERD.<\/p>\n

Common Signs Of A Grinding Habit<\/h3>\n

Many people who grind their teeth don\u2019t notice when they do it (especially if they\u2019re mainly doing it in their sleep) but you don\u2019t have to catch a teeth-grinder in the act, because there are plenty of other indicators:<\/p>\n

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  • Shortened, worn down teeth with flat chewing surfaces<\/li>\n
  • Chips, cracks, and splits in the teeth<\/li>\n
  • Exposed dentin (the more yellow layer beneath the white enamel)<\/li>\n
  • Tooth loss<\/li>\n
  • Soreness in the jaw (for nighttime teeth-grinders, the jaw will be most sore in the morning; for daytime grinders, the jaw will be most sore in the evening)<\/li>\n
  • Frequent headaches<\/li>\n
  • Overdeveloped jaw muscles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Treatment Options For Bruxism<\/h3>\n

    The best treatment for bruxism will depend on which type it is, and some treatments focus more on minimizing damage while others focus on finding the cause of the grinding and addressing it.<\/p>\n

    Orthodontic Treatment<\/h4>\n

    For bruxism that is caused by a bad bite or poorly aligned teeth, straightening those teeth out and correcting the bite may fix the problem.<\/p>\n

    Custom Mouthguards<\/h4>\n

    While a mouthguard can\u2019t do anything about the grinding itself or what\u2019s causing it, it can protect the teeth from further damage by providing a cushion between the upper and lower teeth.<\/p>\n

    Behavioral Therapy<\/h4>\n

    Habit-reversal techniques and behavioral therapy can help patients with teeth grinding become more aware of the habit and make a more conscious effort to stop. This is more effective for awake bruxism than sleep bruxism, as the latter is much more difficult to control.<\/p>\n

    Relaxation<\/h4>\n

    In cases where bruxism is caused by stress or anxiety, relaxation techniques can help. These include activities like massages, warm baths, listening to calming music, getting a full night\u2019s sleep, yoga, and deep breathing exercises.<\/p>\n