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Teeth grinding (bruxism)

 
 
Kowhai Dental Teeth grinding
 

Grinding your teeth can cause mild to severe pain throughout the day, and you may not even know you’re doing it.

If you’re experiencing headaches, jaw pain or toothache, there’s a decent chance you’re suffering from tooth grinding, or bruxism. The unconscious act of gnashing, grinding or clenching your teeth can lead to lasting pain that follows you through the day. If left unchecked, prolonged bruxism can cause damage to your teeth and contribute to wider oral health issues.

 
 

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is a medical term for grinding your teeth. Occasional instances of bruxism may cause headaches or jaw tightness, but aren’t necessarily cause for concern.

However, frequent or chronic bruxism may lead to damaged teeth, gums or jaws.

Bruxism can occur during the night, while you’re asleep, or during the day. Whenever you’re clenching your teeth, there is a decent chance you aren’t aware of the issue.

Likewise, bruxism can be an indication of other bodily health issues, such as sleep apnoea or heightened stress levels. If you suspect you’re suffering from prolonged bruxism, checking in with your dentist can help to resolve the pain and identify underlying health complications.

 

Symptoms of bruxism

  • Chronic ear or jaw pain

  • Increased tooth sensitivity

  • Headaches

  • Ringing sound in your ear

  • Temporomandibular (TMJ) pain, centered around the temples and ears

  • Painful clicking or popping in the jaw when eating or talking

  • Stiff or locked jaw

  • Grinding teeth, which may be loud enough to wake you or your partner

  • Worn tooth enamel.

 

Common causes

  • Obstructive sleep apnoea

  • Other sleep conditions, such as sleep paralysis or restless sleep

  • Certain medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)

  • Heightened stress or anxiety

  • Substance use such as alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs and caffeine

  • Misaligned teeth or jaws

  • Teething (in children).

 

How to stop teeth grinding naturally

If you’re experiencing bruxism, you may be able to address the issue with some lifestyle changes. However, if the teeth grinding persists or is not caused by lifestyle choices, you should book an appointment at Kowhai Dental to discuss the problem.

The following lifestyle changes may help:

  • Reduce your intake of alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs

  • Address or avoid causes of stress

  • Avoid stimulants like coffee or tea in the evening

  • Practice good sleep habits.

 

When to see a dentist

Bruxism can cause significant pain, lead to long-term damage and be a sign of other bodily health issues.

Bruxism should be assessed by a dentist if:

  • Symptoms persist longer than a day or two

  • Lifestyle changes have not alleviated the issue

  • Pain is severe or worsening

  • Your teeth are sore, feel worn-down, or are chipped

  • You hear popping or clicking noises when chewing

  • Your jaw gets locked open when opening widely.

 

What to expect

When you come to see the team at Kowhai Dental about teeth grinding, we’ll start by consulting with you to identify the cause of the problem.

Once the cause is identified, we can start to address the issue at its root. In the case of a misaligned jaw, we may refer you to one of our in-house orthodontic services.

Otherwise, we may refer you to a specialist to address bodily health issues such as sleep apnoea or chronic stress.

No matter the cause, we can help you manage the discomfort and pain of bruxism with a custom-fit night guard. These guards are superior to supermarket sports guards, as they are tightly fit to the shape of your teeth for better comfort and compatibility.

Night guards help to prevent damage caused by teeth grinding against one another, as well as reducing related pain and improving sleep patterns.

 

Related treatments

Sometimes bruxism is the problem, and other times it’s a symptom of a greater issue. We’ll diagnose the cause and help you get the treatment you need to manage and overcome bruxism.

Night guards →

Dental fillings →

Root canals →

 
 

Got questions

  • Teeth grinding is the act of grinding or clenching your teeth. It often happens while you sleep, but may also occur during the day. Bruxism can occur only occasionally and may not be a cause for concern, however if the problem persists you may need dental or medical advice.

  • Most people are not aware that they’re grinding their teeth. Common symptoms are headaches and pain in the jaw, ears or temples.

    However, there are many telltale signs of bruxism besides the headaches and sore jaws. If the edges of your front teeth have little chips out of them or are flat, then you most likely are a grinder.

    If you suspect you have bruxism, book an appointment at Kowhai Dental for a professional diagnosis.

  • Bruxism can occur for a large variety of reasons. It’s often brought on by lifestyle changes such as increased stress or substance use.

    Otherwise, it may be caused by misaligned jaws or teeth, or sleep issues. For example, apnoea restricts your breathing during sleep and you may grind your teeth unconsciously to force your airways open.

  • Teeth grinding is a fairly common condition. A 2016 study suggests approximately 8 percent of the general population experience bruxism regularly. However, most people will experience mild or infrequent teeth grinding in their life at some point.

  • Grinding your teeth at night, rather than during the day, may be specifically linked to sleep-related conditions like apnoea, sleep paralysis or restless sleeping.

    Otherwise, it may be brought on by consuming alcohol, tobacco or caffeine close to bedtime.

    A dentist can help to identify the specific cause and outline suitable treatment.

  • Teeth clenching can be brought on by anxiety or stress, both when sleeping or during the day. However, there are many other possible causes.

    If you have a history of anxiety, it helps to discuss this with your dentist to accurately diagnose the problem.

  • Although research has been inconclusive, there may be some correlation between parasitic intestinal worms and bruxism. Worms are more likely to occur in children or adults with pets, and be treated with over-the-counter medication.

    If bruxism continues after being treated for worms, book an appointment at Kowhai Dental for a professional diagnosis.

  • Bruxism itself can result in significant pain, both in headaches and muscular jain around the face. However, teeth grinding can also lead to further oral health complications. As you’re constantly rubbing your teeth together, they may become flattened, the enamel can wear down and ultimately teeth may become chipped.

    Prolonged clenching or grinding can lead to problems with the actual jaw joint, TMJ (temporomandibular joint). As the TMJ weakens, popping or clicking sounds can be heard from the joint when opening or closing your mouth. Advanced damage to the joint results in limited ability to open your mouth widely or “locking” of the jaw where the jaw becomes locked open.

    This may lead to the need for fillings, crowns, orthodontic treatment, or other restorative dental procedures.

  • Some vitamin deficiencies may contribute to teeth grinding by affecting your quality of sleep or stress levels. Common suspects include B-vitamins, especially B5, vitamin C, calcium and magnesium.

  • Bruxism is treated according to its cause. When you visit the dentist, we’ll help you figure out what is causing your bruxism. Once we figure out the cause, we'll set out a few treatment options which may include orthodontic treatment, dental treatment, stress reduction or referral to a specialist.

    We can also help you to mitigate the pain and discomfort of bruxism with a custom-fit night guard.

  • A night guard is the simplest solution to grinding your teeth. A night guard to help with grinding must be specially made for you from hard material. A soft, sports guard will only make matters worse as the soft material promotes clenching.

    Otherwise, you may be able to reduce bruxism through lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and substance use.

  • Yes. The best way to treat prolonged bruxism is to address the underlying cause.

    However, teeth grinding can occur occasionally, without chronic issues. In these cases, simple lifestyle adjustments should be sufficient to reduce bruxism.

  • Yes. The night guard protects your teeth from wearing down due to grinding, and adds more “tooth length” to open the jaws slightly and take pressure off the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The night guard is also used to reposition the lower jaw to aid in healing a damaged TMJ. For some people, wearing a night guard makes them aware of the clenching and grinding and helps them to stop.