Teeth Grinding
Teeth Grinding – The Jaw-Dropping Truth
• You may wake with a sore jaw or a dull headache
• You regularly find yourself clenching your teeth
• Your dentist picks up the problem during a routine check-up or lastly…
• You receive a hefty dig in the ribs from your sleep partner!
The Effects of Bruxism – It might not be just your teeth!
The truth is that most people will grind teeth or go through periods of jaw clenching, but others will do it on a regular basis sufficient enough to cause damage. Surveys suggest that it occurs most commonly in 25-44 year old’s. Here’s an interesting fact….
Teeth grinding can be noisy and in some cases can be compared to extremely loud snoring, but in other cases, ‘grinders’ make no noise at all. According to one specialist, serious ‘bruxers’ can grind their teeth at least 2-4 times per hour of sleep. That’s enough to cause a considerable amount of damage both to your teeth and any possible relationships!
Bruxism can occur as an occasional and mild disorder or it can be frequent and aggressive. Besides causing worn, cracked, or sensitive teeth, it’s also a leading contributor of TMJ disorder, causing damage and pain in the jaw, head, and neck area. For this reason, and for the sake of your relationship, if you suspect you have bruxism, you should contact our Chatswood dental practice for teeth grinding treatment.
Why me – Why do I have bruxism?
Here at Evergreen Dental this is a question that our Chatswood dentists are often asked and to be perfectly honest, no-one really knows. It is thought that several factors could be involved including stress, crooked or missing teeth, or even lifestyle choices such as smoking, heavy caffeine use and the partaking of recreational drugs. Recently there has also been some suggestions that certain prescribed drugs for problems such as anxiety, depression, and rather ironically, sleep disorder can all trigger bruxism.
Why me – Why do I have bruxism?
Here at Evergreen Dental this is a question that our Chatswood dentists are often asked and to be perfectly honest, no-one really knows. It is thought that several factors could be involved including stress, crooked or missing teeth, or even lifestyle choices such as smoking, heavy caffeine use and the partaking of recreational drugs. Recently there has also been some suggestions that certain prescribed drugs for problems such as anxiety, depression, and rather ironically, sleep disorder can all trigger bruxism.
Bruxism treatment – How Evergreen Dental can help
We can’t stress enough how important it is for patients to attend regular dental check ups. It’s a vital part of Chatswood dentistry which allows us to detect the signs and conditions of teeth grinding and as such, we can treat it before it becomes more serious. We have the skills to diagnose and treat unusual wear and tear on the teeth and identify the source of facial pain which may result from teeth grinding.
Teeth Grinding Solutions – Now for the good news!
Depending on your diagnosis our Chatswood dentist may recommend one or more teeth grinding treatments for your bruxism. These include…
Custom made nightguards
Relaxation
Evening up your bite
So what’s the key takeaway….
Teeth grinding is more common than you may think and many people suffer from it at one time or another. If you grind your teeth on a regular basis then please don’t suffer in silence. Come and speak to our Chatswood dentists and we’ll discuss possible solutions. Call us today on (02) 8599 1999 to book a consultation.
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