Why You Should See Us About Your Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, medically known as bruxism, can be a serious dental health issue when the grinding occurs regularly. It can damage your teeth and lead to other complications. You may end up needing complete dentures or other tooth replacement options if you do not address the problem early on.

Stress and anxiety could lead you to grind your teeth without noticing throughout the day, but usually, it occurs during sleep. Yet, the more likely causes include an abnormal bite, crooked teeth, missing teeth or a sleep disorder like sleep apnea.

Unfortunately, if you are grinding your teeth when you sleep, you may be unaware that you are doing it. Although, there are hints. Bruxism symptoms include a mild headache or sore jaw when you wake up. Or, perhaps, a loved one or family member has heard the grinding.

In any case, whether you suspect or have been told that you are grinding your teeth, you should talk to our expert dental staff at Sacramento Emergency Dentist. We can examine your mouth and jaw for signs of bruxism, like excessive wear on your teeth and jaw tenderness, then guide you to the best solution to end it.

Why Teeth Grinding is Harmful

Your chronic teeth grinding can result in a loosening, fracturing or loss of teeth if left unattended. Eventually, you may even wear your teeth down to stumps, requiring you to seek serious treatments, including crowns, root canals, bridges, implants and partial or complete dentures.

Furthermore, severe grinding can affect your jaw, causing or worsening temporomandibular joint disorder (or TMJ/TMD) and possibly changing the appearance of your face. In extreme cases, you may also experience problems speaking, chewing, swallowing and sleeping.

Potential Teeth Grinding Remedies

You are not alone with your bruxism. It is a common condition. Millions of people are affected. You may need a mouthguard, which we can custom-make to prevent your teeth from touching while you sleep. It cushions your teeth and keeps them in alignment. Custom-made mouthguards are better than over-the-counter ones because they fit your jaw shape and size and are made of more comfortable materials.

 If your teeth grinding is caused by misaligned, crowded or crooked teeth, you may need to undergo reductive coronoplasty or additive coronoplasty. These are dental procedures used to level and reshape the biting surface of your teeth or build up the teeth, respectively.

Early treatment is key to avoiding significant dental complications. So, don’t hesitate to contact the Sacramento Emergency Dentist team if you are experiencing even mild jaw pain. We can provide you with helpful information on treatment options for teeth grinding so you can find pain relief.