Teeth Grinding: A Simple (But Complete) Guide
A considerable amount of people clench, grind, and gnash their teeth, especially when they’re asleep. This is called teeth grinding or bruxism, a condition that’s often involuntary and causes a myriad of dental problems. If you or a loved one has this issue and would like to learn more about it, we have shared a simple yet comprehensive guide about bruxism and ways to treat it. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Teeth Grinding or Bruxism?
People will occasionally grind their teeth, especially during anxiety or stress. In most cases, it’s a harmless practice. However, it can become dangerous when teeth grinding happens frequently and regularly. At this stage, it’s called bruxism. It can happen when someone is awake or asleep, but the latter is of higher concern since people aren’t usually aware it’s happening.
When someone continually grinds their teeth for prolonged periods, this can result in various oral complications. Addressing it is important to prevent irreversible damage to the teeth. Unlike other dental issues, bruxism affects several teeth at once. Thankfully, solutions like mouth guards for teeth grinding are available.
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
While the true cause of bruxism remains unclear to modern medical science, it can happen because of several factors.
Stress and Anxiety
Having high amounts of anxiety and stress can lead to people unconsciously grinding their teeth. This can be exacerbated by anger, frustration, and other extreme feelings. As such, teeth grinding caused by stress and anxiety usually only happens when someone is awake. It becomes a habit to release some of the stress and reduce tension inside the body.
Sleeping Issues
Bruxism during sleep is less understood. It’s considered a sleep-related movement disorder caused by involuntary chewing movements. In some cases, the grinding movement can reach up to 250 PSI, which is far above a person’s average bite force. This results in more rapid deterioration of teeth' enamel integrity.
Certain Medications and Controlled Substances
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been known to cause bruxism.
Symptoms and Effects of Teeth Grinding
The friction and force from constant teeth grinding can cause various symptoms and issues. Here are the most common ones:
Dental Attrition
Dental attrition refers to the loss of teeth enamel or tissue because of tooth-to-tooth contact. Rows of teeth will appear worn out and flat because of the constant friction. Not only is this aesthetically unappealing, but dental attrition can escalate into bigger problems like bite misalignment and gum issues.
Increased Teeth Sensitivity
As the enamel wears away, the sensitive nerves inside each tooth become exposed. This makes it difficult for someone to drink hot and cold drinks. Mechanical movements like brushing and flossing will also cause pain in some cases.
Cavities
Worn tooth enamel is more susceptible to dental caries or cavities. It’s much easier for sugars and bacteria to enter a tooth and cause decay. With the increased prevalence of cavities, you could have more toothaches, tooth decay, and bad breath.
Jaw Pain and Headaches
The intense force of teeth grinding puts pressure on various parts of the mouth, not just your teeth. So when you’re awake, you might feel jaw pain, headaches, and even soreness in the neck area.
How to Prevent Teeth Grinding
There are three ways to prevent or treat bruxism: dental intervention, behavioral management, and medication.
Dental Intervention: Using splints or a teeth night guard while sleeping will separate your teeth. Most night guard teeth aids like ours at Remi are made of strong and resilient materials. These will still feel comfortable but are durable enough to withstand pressure from the jaws. Teeth reshaping or crown repairs may be needed if the damage is too extensive.
Behavioral Management: This focuses on addressing psychological and behavioral reasons that result in teeth grinding. These include stress and anxiety management, meditation, practicing proper chewing techniques, and therapy.
Medications: Some muscle relaxants, mild sedatives, and stress medications can help treat bruxism. However, these are not as effective as the first two methods above.
Night Guards for Teeth Grinding
However, not all teeth night guards are made equal. Some of them are also more expensive and take a long time to use. That’s what Remi is here to address. Our night guards for teeth grinding:
- Provide real relief and help you achieve a better smile
- Uses a bite pattern for a custom fit — nothing too tight to too loose
- Are made from high-quality materials
- Are HSA/FSA eligible for more savings
The Bottom Line: Treating Bruxism
In general, teeth grinding is a mild issue. However, it can become a bigger problem when a person does it frequently and regularly, resulting in dental attrition, jaw pain, cavities, and many other issues. Getting the right help and preventing it from happening in the future are the most effective ways to treat this disorder.
Shop Teeth Grinding Mouth Guards at Remi
Remi is your trusted source for various dental accessories, such as ultrasonic cleaners, whitening kits, and teeth guards. Check our collection today and order a night guard for clenching and grinding!
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