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What Problems can Teeth Grinding Cause?

Teeth Grinding Teeth grinding is one of the most common things to happen in your sleep. The good thing is that it can be easily and effectively treated by a Puyallup WA dentist.

It’s good to know that grinding, also known as bruxism, and clenching happens naturally every now and again, and may not always be a problem.

If you think you may suffer from bruxism, come and talk to us. At SK Family Dental, we treat the root cause of teeth grinding and work hard to prevent damage to your teeth.

Treatment can be simple, like wearing a mouth-guard to bed, ensuring that you and your partner get a good night’s sleep.

Causes of Teeth Grinding

Grinding your teeth is a symptom, rather than a cause in itself. The following list details a few of the most common reasons why people may grind their teeth:

  • Stress
  • Nervous habit
  • An abnormal bite (caused by tooth decay)
  • Underlying dental health problems
  • Sleep habits

Only a dentist can help you find the root cause of your teeth grinding. Sometimes it might be due to a dental issue and sometimes it’s due to psychological causes. Whatever the reason, we’ll help you sort it out.

Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

Grinding your teeth can irritate your partner. Often the first indication that you grind your teeth is when your partner tells you. It’s important to listen to your partner because you may not always know if you grind your teeth since it normally occurs at night, while you’re asleep.

Some other symptoms of teeth grinding include:

  • Jaw aches
  • Headaches
  • Bite feeling abnormal or sore
  • Toothaches
  • Hearing loss

In addition to this, teeth grinding can also lead to sleep issues. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night then your teeth might be the cause.

Come and talk to us if you have any of these symptoms. The grinding action can cause further damage to your teeth if it’s not treated early.

Teeth Grinding Complications

Teeth grinding can lead to serious issues if it’s not treated in time. The first side effect is an increase in the symptoms associated with teeth grinding. Some other side effects include:

  • Earaches
  • Headaches
  • Fracturing of teeth
  • Loosening of teeth
  • Loss of Teeth
  • Wearing the teeth down causing bridges, crowns, root canals, implants and/or dentures
  • Hearing loss
  • Change in the appearance of the face
  • Aggravated joints in the lower jaw
  • Worsening TMD/TMJ
  • Facial structure issues

It’s very important to talk to your dentist about tooth grinding because it can lead to your teeth wearing down or even tooth loss. In the most severe cases, bruxism can also cause facial deformity. If you think you might be grinding your teeth, please schedule a same-day dental appointment to get checked out. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent serious damage to your teeth and your overall health.

How to Care for Your Grinding Teeth

Although there is no cure for grinding teeth, we can help eliminate the cause of future grinding. The first thing we will advise is a full check-up to make sure your teeth are all healthy. After an evaluation, we’ll work together on a course of treatment,

This may include dental treatments for an abnormal bite or toothache. If the underlying cause of bruxism is stress-related, we can advise ways to help manage stress and anxiety issues.

Even if there is no apparent reason for grinding your teeth, we can still help prevent the problem from getting worse. Sometimes talking about the condition and listening to an expert can help a great deal.

Brian Toorani of Dental Oasis of Orange County has said, “Anxiety, stress, an abnormal bite, and many other contributing factors can lead to severe bruxism. As dentists, our priority is to quickly resolve teeth grinding to vastly improve our patient’s quality of life. Mouthguards can prevent further damage to teeth and gums, are only worn at night, and have proven to be an excellent treatment option for those experiencing mild to severe bruxism.

Teeth Grinding Prevention: The Mouthguard

Further damage can be prevented by wearing a mouthguard at night when you sleep. This is a good short-term solution until something more permanent can be found. A mouthguard is a preventive device that is customized for your mouth.

A mouthguard is very easy to wear and does not cause much pain or discomfort. You may feel a little uncomfortable when you start wearing it, but you will eventually get used to wearing the device inside your mouth.

It not only covers the teeth but provides protection for the gums as well. You will not have any problem eating or speaking since a mouthguard will only be worn at night – when you sleep.

If grinding your teeth has become a problem for you or your partner, then come and talk to us today. Together we can make grinding your teeth a thing of the past, and ensure the future of your teeth as well as a peaceful night’s sleep.

Call (253) 770-0198 today to book an appointment. SK Family Dental has experienced family dentist to help you solve your nightly teeth grinding.

About Dr. Samuel Kwon

Dr. Kwon graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in 2004. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from UCLA. Dr. Kwon has been practing dentistry for over 10 years at his practice in Puyallup, WA.

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