Have you noticed that you have worn or chipped teeth? Do you wake up with pain in the jaw or face? Do you grind your teeth in your sleep?
Bruxism, also known as chronic teeth grinding, is a condition that affects millions of people who clench or grind their teeth regularly. While a mild case of teeth grinding may not require treatment, chronic, long-term teeth grinding can lead to serious problems. You are more susceptible to tooth wear, jaw disorders, frequent headaches, and gum disease.
Teeth Grinding Causes
Teeth grinding can have a variety of causes. Our team will thoroughly evaluate your dental health and occlusion to identify dysfunction and imbalance. Treating the cause of your bruxism, not just the symptoms, is the key to a lasting and comfortable result. The most common causes of this dental issue are:
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High levels of stress and anxiousness can lead to teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth is a common psychological response to stress.
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Crooked teeth, malocclusion, or an abnormal bite can cause you to unconsciously grind your teeth. The grinding is your body’s attempt to find a more comfortable resting position for your jaw.
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Certain sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea can cause bruxism. Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing is temporarily interrupted during the night from a blocked airway. Teeth grinding is your body’s response to opening up your partially obstructed airway.
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Medical conditions including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases can cause you to grind your teeth.
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Some medications, antidepressants, caffeine, alcohol, or recreational drugs, can increase the likelihood of teeth grinding too. Check labels and see if they list bruxism as a possible side effect.
- A TMJ disorder can also cause teeth grinding issues. Your temporomandibular joints are jaw muscles that connect your lower jaw to your skull. Teeth grinding is a very common symptom of a TMJ disorder.
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Certain habits can also contribute to teeth grinding. For example, chewing on pens or pencils, biting nails, or constantly clenching your jaw.
These are not the only causes that can make you grind your teeth, but are very common. Be sure to visit our dentist or a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Routine Visits Can Prevent Damage From Teeth Grinding
Regular dental visits to the dentist are necessary to avoid damaged teeth as a result of teeth grinding. Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer can identify the signs of bruxism with a visual dental exam. Depending on the extent of injury and cause of teeth grinding, our dental care team offers a variety of treatment options to help stop teeth grinding.
Repair tooth damage and restore your bite’s function with Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer today. Our Columbia SC dental care team will provide you with the comfort you deserve.
Bruxism Treatment in Columbia, SC
There are several options for the treatment of teeth grinding. Everyone’s oral health condition is different, so it’s best to visit your dentist to determine the right treatment for your smile. We strive to achieve three goals with bruxism treatment: stop teeth grinding, correct occlusal instability, and repair damaged teeth.
Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer restore proper balance to your occlusion (bite) by gently reshaping the teeth, so they make proper contact. This will also eliminate stress on your jaw joints and relieve pain.
Reshaping of the teeth may include:
- Shortening teeth: This process includes strategically removing a small portion of tooth structure to realign your bite.
- Tooth lengthening: This process uses dental crowns or porcelain veneers to reshape problem teeth.
- Orthodontic treatments: Usually for mild to moderate issues, our dentist can provide Invisalign clear aligners. We can alleviate jaw pain and bruxism symptoms by realigning your teeth with orthodontics.
- Implant dentistry: Sometimes gaps in your bite cause teeth grinding issues. We can replace missing teeth using dental implants.
Teeth Grinding Night Guards & Mouthguards
Teeth grinding mouthguards may be helpful for some patients to stop teeth grinding at night. Night guards for teeth grinding are custom removable oral appliances that fit over your teeth. To create a custom night guard, our dentists will take an impression of your teeth and create a mold.
The dental lab will use the mold to fabricate your oral appliance. The best part is that you only have to wear night guards while you sleep. They are a great way of preventing further damage.
Schedule a Dental Exam and Consultation
Contact our Columbia, SC dentist office to find out what treatment options are best to help you stop teeth grinding. Call us at 803-400-8729 or request an appointment online today.