How often do you wake up in the morning feeling soreness or tension in your jaw? Or maybe you’ve noticed that you have frequent headaches and you don’t know the root cause. If you are experiencing these symptoms, then you might be grinding teeth at night.
Most people don’t realize they are grinding or clenching teeth, especially because it often happens at night when they are sleeping. Not only do these jaw problems cause discomfort and pain, but they can really take a toll on your overall dental health in the future.
In this article, we are taking a closer look at issues relating to grinding teeth and the underlying causes that need to be treated so that you can find relief.
Grinding and Clenching: The Wear and Tear on Your Teeth
What problems can grinding teeth cause? When there is ongoing pressure in the jaw that causes teeth clenching and grinding, then it is likely causing a domino effect of symptoms. Some of these symptoms show up immediately, while others are noticed over time as the teeth are damaged. The most common symptoms of tooth grinding include:
- Jaw tension
- Sore temples
- Morning headaches
- Ear pain
- Facial tension
- Flattened teeth
- Tooth fractures
- Chipped and broken teeth
- TMJ disorders
- Gum recession
- Tooth loss over time
The constant pressure on the teeth wears down the enamel, which can also increase tooth pain and sensitivity. These issues aren’t only cosmetic; they affect your overall dental health and comfort now and in the future.
Tooth grinding means that the jaw is closed tightly, usually while a patient is sleeping, which causes micro-fractures that can lead to broken teeth. These issues can be caused by physical factors, such as a misalignment of the jaw or poor sleep habits. Additionally, there are often emotional factors that can trigger grinding teeth, such as stress and anxiety.
The Mind-Body Connection: Is Grinding Teeth a Trauma Response?
If you are living with chronic stress or unresolved trauma, then it’s possible that these issues are affecting your nervous system and could be contributing to your tooth grinding habit. For example, a person who is often in fight-or-flight mode might experience the body subconsciously tightening up, so they clench teeth and tighten the jaw to cope with the stress.
While teeth clenching isn’t experienced by everyone who has been through a stressful or traumatic experience, it is quite common. Patients with long-term anxiety or PTSD tend to have a higher likelihood of teeth clenching and grinding.
In this situation, not only do you need dental treatments to alleviate the grinding and clenching, but it can also be helpful to pair these dental treatments with relaxation practices and trauma-informed therapy to address the subconscious responses that are happening.
Why Timely Treatment is Essential for Grinding Teeth
Patients who experience tooth grinding (also known as teeth gritting or teeth crunching) should seek treatment immediately. We check for signs of grinding and clenching during your routine appointments, because it’s important to treat these issues in the early stages to prevent more severe damage to your teeth in the future.
When tooth grinding is left untreated, it causes the teeth to crack and break. Additionally, fillings start to fail, and the nerves can eventually become exposed. Long-term pressure from teeth clenching and grinding can even change your bite alignment or alter your facial structure. As the symptoms progress, nerve pain can start radiating from the jaw and down through the neck and shoulders.
If the teeth are damaged, then these broken teeth need to be repaired with major restorations, such as crowns and root canals. When the damage is too severe, then extractions are often the only option, resulting in a need for dental implants and other restorative services.
The good news is that early intervention is an effective way to stop tooth grinding before it causes irreversible damage.
FAQ
What happens if teeth grinding is left untreated?
Over time, these dental issues can cause severe and irreversible damage to your teeth. Delaying treatment could result in the need for major dental restorations in the future, such as crowns, root canals, and even extractions.
Can grinding your teeth cause bone loss?
Yes, it’s possible to experience bone loss because of teeth grinding. This tension causes stress on the bone and ligaments that support the teeth. Eventually, the bone can start to reabsorb, and you might also experience gum recession, which weakens the foundation of your smile.
Can teeth grinding damage nerves?
Yes, nerve damage can occur when the enamel is worn down. Grinding teeth can start to expose the inner layers of the tooth where the nerves are located, which increases sensitivity and can even cause tooth pain. Severe damage might even require root canal therapy, which removes the nerve because of the associated pain.
Protect Your Teeth and Preserve Your Smile
If you have any symptoms of tooth grinding or clenching, then it’s essential that you contact our dental team as soon as possible. Also, make sure to stay consistent with your regular checkups so that we can identify enamel wear or micro-cracks in the earliest stages. Schedule an appointment to learn more about our preventive dentistry services.
We are committed to providing quality dental care for all members of your family. In addition to general dentistry and routine services, we also offer a variety of other dental specialties to match your unique needs.
At myDental, our team is here to help with all of your dental needs. Whether it’s time for a checkup and cleaning or you need bigger restorations, we are just a phone call away. Schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations.
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