Oregon Careers in Healthcare

Teeth grinding refers to scraping or gnashing of the teeth. People who have this condition aren’t always aware of their habit as it often takes place while they are sleeping at night. The Bright Dental Group in Glenmore Park suggests that a shield or a custom made mouth guard for grinding teeth will be able to protect the teeth and can provide protection from damages.

An Overview of Bruxism

Teeth grinding usually starts at around age 4 to 8 years old. According to data, at least 1 out of 5 children are clenching their teeth at night, but there could be more since most parents are not always aware of it. Children who grind their teeth exhibit this unhealthy habit up until age 14 and the condition gradually declines from there. A mouth guard is not usually fit for young teeth clenchers unless it poses threat to their dental health.

This habit can be voluntary or in most cases, involuntary. Leaving the individual completely unconscious of what they are doing. It can occur when a person is feeling anger, stress, or fear. But for some, it happens while they are asleep at night. Consistent grinding puts too much force in the mouth which can cause crucial issues not only for the teeth but for the jaw as well. A mouth guard for grinding teeth might be recommended but a severe case may need major tooth procedures.

Signs and Symptoms

Since teeth grinding is commonly undetected unless examined by a dentist, you’re probably not aware that you have this condition. However, you might want to take these symptoms into consideration if you are suspecting that you are clenching your teeth:

1. mouth or jaw pain
2. pain in the ears
3. headache
4. disturbed sleep
5. teeth sensitivity or worse, tooth loss
6. toothache
7. broken restorative dental instruments

It would be best if you visit a specialist as soon as you exhibit grinding teeth symptoms to prevent risks and complications in the mouth associated with it.

Causes Of Teeth Grinding

The major reason why teeth grinding takes place is still unknown up to these days. Nonetheless, doctors believe that it is highly associated with physical, psychological, and hereditary components.

Teeth grinding during the day is commonly triggered by anger, anxiety, fear, and tension. It serves as a coping strategy to manage these unpleasant emotions. Other factors can also contribute to bruxism during the day like trying to stay focused or attentive.

Clenching at night is known to have connections with sleep disorders or sleep-related chewing habits. Mouth guards are usually prescribed to patients who grind during sleep at night to protect the teeth from harm caused by bruxism.

Risks and Complications

People who gnash their teeth do not often see this as a serious oral issue that needs to be addressed. That is why most of the time, the condition gets worse which results in oral problems. Some of the risks and complications caused by teeth grinding include:

• irreversible damage to the mouth and dental restorations
• extreme and constant headache
• temporomandibular joints problems

Treatments for Teeth Grinding

Prior to the treatment, the dentist will determine the cause of bruxism beforehand. Remember that there are several reasons why it occurs and each patient grinds their teeth due to different causes. Dentists also state that they are not basically trying to stop the condition itself but rather, they help patients manage bruxism in different ways.

Common Treatments

• Mouth guard. This piece is custom made fit to protect the teeth and mouth from damages. Mouth guards can also be used in sports activities to prevent injuries to the teeth caused by accidents. Wearing a mouth guard while playing sports can save you from the expensive cost of dental treatments.
• Dental procedures. When the teeth grinding is so severe that it causes injuries to the teeth and mouth, custom procedures may follow. Depending on the issue, dentists may perform teeth reshaping and restorations to fix the broken tooth.

Therapeutical Approaches

Your teeth grinding habits can be lessened with a few strategies targetting your behavior and other psychological attributes.

• Managing stress and anxiety. If the patient is grinding due to tension and strain, mouth relaxation techniques will help them manage the condition. Deep breathing, massages, and different kind of therapies are just some of the things that can be useful to aid gnashing. Professional counselors and therapists are also highly suggested.
• Biofeedback. This is a technique that involves the mind and body by attempting to gain control over involuntary body movements and functions. This will help the patient overcome bruxism once they learn how to change their habits with the help of biofeedback.

Medications

Medications are not always the first option in treating this condition. This method has not shown distinct and viable results that treat teeth grinding. The medication prescribed to aid grinding is usually just to help the patient relax their muscle.

• Muscle calmants. This is often prescribed to be taken before sleep to relax the muscles in the mouth.
• Anxiety and stress medication. Using depressants can also help the patient manage their teeth grinding, however, this medication is not intended for long-term use.