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Have you found out that you grind your teeth? or do you feel pain or other symptoms indicative of teeth grinding? If the answer is yes to this question, this is the best time to see our dental professionals at Wilsonville Dental Group. Our specialized dental team will examine your teeth for wear to confirm if you grind them. It can also be determined by looking at the bite and alignment.
What Does "Teeth Grinding" Mean?
Another name for teeth grinding is bruxism which often occurs during sleep. According to the experts at the Wilsonville Dental Group, grinding happens during sleep and that’s why it is called nocturnal bruxism. Even while awake you may also grind your teeth or clench your jaw subconsciously.
Problems Associated with Teeth Grinding
There are a few problems associated with teeth grinding such as:
- Teeth chipping or fracturing
- Loss of teeth enamel that may expose deeper layers of the tooth
- Dentinal hypersensitivity
- Pain in jaw muscles, or a locked jaw
- Jaw, neck or face pain or soreness
- Pain radiating to the ear
- Teeth Damage
- Sleep disruption
Solutions to Teeth Grinding
At Wilsonville Dental Group we have the great solutions for problems associated with teeth grinding. The treatment options are as follows:
- Mouth-guards and splints: Mouth-guards are also known as occlusal splints that may be beneficial for night-time bruxism in your sleep. A mouthguard cushions the teeth and stops them from grinding against each other while you sleep. If you or a loved one has nocturnal bruxism, custom-made mouthguards may help protect your teeth from harm. Mouth-guards fabricated by our dentists at Wilsonville Dental Group will reduce the strain on your jaw.
- Invisalign: This is a dental procedure that may be used by our dentists to move or level the biting surfaces of the teeth. Invisalign is effective if your teeth grinding is caused by crowded, or crooked teeth.
- Stress-reduction techniques: Sometimes teeth grinding can be due to mental health issues like stress, depression, and anxiety. There are always some good ways to cope with the problems and stress reduction techniques can also benefit your overall health, so it’s a low-risk remedy. Some stress reduction techniques may include – Meditation, Yoga, Counseling, Exercise.
- Tongue and jaw muscle exercises: To treat teeth grinding there are also some tongue and jaw muscle exercises. These can help you relax the jaw and facial muscles and preserve the proper orientation of your jaw. You can try these at home or work with the help of an expert.
Risk Factors for Teeth Grinding
These factors increase your risk of bruxism:
- Stress
- Age
- Personality types such as aggressive, and competitive personalities can increase the risk of bruxism.
- Medications and other substances.
- Family members with bruxism.
- Other disorders. such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, night terrors, etc.
If you or a loved one has any symptoms of teeth grinding then this is the right time to see your dentist. It is best to get dental treatment for bruxism as early as possible to prevent the progression of injury it causes. In addition, if you have noticed that your child grinds his/her teeth or has other signs of bruxism, make sure to share it with your dentist at the Wilsonville Dental Group. Our dental team is striving to provide the best treatment possible for our valued patients.
