Teeth grinding causes numerous problems that you may not recognize as originating from your mouth. In fact, because many people have a habit of grinding their teeth in their sleep, they may not know that they do it. However, it can lead to serious problems in many areas of your life. Consequently, you need to consult with a dentist to mitigate harm from this habit and treat damage.
What Is Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding is also known as bruxism. This happens when you clench your teeth together tightly or grind them. You may grind your teeth silently, or the sound could disturb others in the office or wake a sleeping partner, depending on the time of day and severity.
Most people clench their teeth throughout the night in their sleep without realizing it. Some people do it unconsciously during the day. In either case, stress, anxiety, anger, or sleep problems could cause teeth grinding at night or during the day. No matter the cause or time it happens, without treatment, you could experience serious complications from bruxism.
What Problems Can Bruxism Cause?
Grinding your teeth can cause pain and damage to your teeth. However, you may even feel harm in other parts of your head, leading you to seek care from your physician before talking to a dentist. Common problems caused by bruxism include:
- Wearing down of teeth
- Chipped or fractured teeth
- Teeth grinding headache upon waking
- Pain in the jaw or ear not related to another problem
- Soreness in facial muscles
- Sensitive teeth with worn enamel or receding gumlines
- Sleep problems
Because teeth grinding in sleep happens unconsciously, you may not notice a problem until you develop some of the above issues. Getting help from a dentist for bruxism could help stop these problems, including those not related to the mouth, such as teeth grinding headaches. It may also prevent the need for other services in the future, including:
- Root canals
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
What Treatment Can You Get for Grinding of Teeth?
If you grind your teeth, the dentist first needs to evaluate the health of your teeth and mouth. Some people will chew the interior of their cheeks in their sleep when they grind their teeth. Others may wear down the biting surfaces of their teeth, leading to shorter teeth or cracking.
For issues such as cracked teeth, you may need to have a root canal treatment. If you crack a tooth, the crack allows bacteria to reach deep inside the tooth to infect the pulp. This infected tooth pulp will cause pain, and the infection could spread to your jaw. A root canal cleans out this damaged tissue to stop the infection and eliminate pain. Today’s root canals are nothing to fear. With expert care from an endodontist who uses modern pain medication and methods, you will likely have less pain than you may have experienced if you had this procedure years ago. After a root canal treatment, you will need a dental crown or other restoration option applied to protect your treated tooth.
Once you have treatment for damaged teeth, your dentist will fit you with a nightguard. These types of trays have a custom design that fits over the biting surfaces of your teeth perfectly, reducing discomfort and lack of compliance. You will wear the nightguard when you go to sleep at night to prevent teeth grinding in sleep from causing more harm.
Make an Appointment with Lovett Dental West U in Texas for Teeth Grinding Treatment
If you feel concerned that you might have a problem with the grinding of teeth, make an appointment with us at Lovett Dental West U in Houston, Texas by calling 832-617-5530. With the help of our West U dentists in Houston, we can provide you with dental care for damaged teeth and fit you with a dental nightguard to reduce future harm. Your smile is precious. Partner with us to help you keep your smile looking great!