Teeth grinding, or bruxism as it is otherwise known, is the clenching and grinding of teeth that is often involuntary and can be done when a person is asleep. However, there are other instances where people do it when they are awake as well. Stressful situations are usually the culprit. It is actually surprisingly common, and roughly half the population will grind their teeth every now and then.
Aside from stress and anxiety which bruxism is known for being a result of, there are many reasons why a person may grind their teeth. It can be due to a misaligned bite, where the teeth are not sitting correctly against each other when an individual closes their mouth. For this reason, it is important to check in with your dentist in Harley Street so that we can examine your teeth and have your bite assessed.
Upon inspection of the quality of your teeth, there are some telltale signs that can clearly indicate to us that you may be grinding your teeth. Remember you may not have any idea that you grind your teeth when you sleep so it may come as a surprise to you when we ask about it during a consultation.
If we identify indicators that may suggest bruxism is a condition of yours, we will look further into the reasons behind why you may be doing this, and work on a preventive treatment that can help stop it before further damage is done.
Why is bruxism a problem?
It’s not just because we think grinding your teeth is an annoying habit that should be stopped. It can actually damage teeth by wearing down the enamel to the point of exposing the teeth to decay. This can eventually be the cause of tooth loss.
In severe situations, people have even been known to crack their teeth, and it is not uncommon for persistent head, or jaw, pain to be present with those who grind their teeth repetitively. If you think you may grind your teeth, we understand that you could be desperate to find relief from the pressure and pain that it may be causing you.
Come in to visit your dentist in Harley Street to see if we are able to provide you with a device alongside other solutions that can ease your suffering if you think you unconsciously clench your jaw, or grind your teeth at night.
We will firstly attempt to discover if there is a reason behind this action. We work through physical and psychological possibilities to do this. Physical factors include evaluating your bite, and if this does not prove a significant factor twe can move onto other possible reasons behind the action.
How can I prevent grinding my teeth?
As mentioned before, stress is one of the leading reasons why you may be clenching your jaw, or grinding your teeth. One of the first tips that we offer our patients is to simply be aware. If you are grinding your teeth during the day, try to identify a trigger.
Should you grind your teeth unconsciously at night, then your dentist in Harley Street may be able to offer a sleeping device which can reduce the effects.