The Nitty Gritty of Teeth Grinding
Do you know what bruxism is? Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is when an individual grinds or clenches their teeth together. Teeth grinding happens most when a person is asleep. It is estimated that around 30 to 40 million people grind their teeth daily.
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
Some individuals who grind their teeth may not be aware that they are doing this while they sleep. Even during times that they are awake, people may be clenching their jaw without even noticing. If you or someone you know often has the following symptoms, they may be grinding their teeth.
- Headaches
- Sore jaw
- Tooth pain
- Chipped or fractured teeth
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
Imagine that your body is tight, your shoulders are up near your ears, and your jaw is clenched. Often, people find themselves in this position when they are stressed. Not only will their jaw tense, but their whole body will too. For stressed and anxious individuals, teeth grinding may be an unconscious way that their bodies cope with overwhelming feelings.
Other causes of bruxism are using substances such as alcohol or smoking cigarettes. Some, not all, may grind their teeth because of their usage of these items. Sleep apnea at times can also be the root cause of teeth grinding.
Available Treatments
Most adults and children do not grind their teeth enough to have any severe treatment. There are a few things that a dentist can prescribe, however, that will help to stop grinding one’s teeth or clenching their jaw. Splints and mouthguards are an optional treatment that will keep the top and bottom teeth separated from each other to avoid grinding them together.
As we said previously, most people do not require any severe treatment for teeth grinding. However, some do. In that case, dental correction is the best option for treatment. Dentists or oral surgeons may reshape the surfaces of one’s teeth to repair all of the damage that clenching and grinding their teeth has caused.
Contact Dr. Pollock
Ready to overcome jaw clenching and teeth grinding? If you have any severe complications due to this issue, please call Dr. Pollock today at Rockwall Oral Surgery to schedule an appointment. You can reach us at (469) 264-8921 or via email at info@dentalimplantsurgery.com. We look forward to working with you to make your smile beautiful!
