Bruxism is the clenching together of both the upper and lower teeth. Clenching your teeth together can put pressure on the muscles, tissue, and other surrounding structures of the jaw and can cause jaw joint disorders, headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, ear pain, tense muscles, and excessive wear on the teeth. These symptoms together generally refer to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
How Do You Develop Bruxism?
Bruxism can develop at any age, and both children and adults can have the habit of grinding their teeth. Although the causes of bruxism are not certain, several factors may be involved. Stressful situations, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and crooked or missing teeth may be responsible.
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding can happen seemingly randomly. There are a couple of factors that have been linked to tooth grinding, but there’s no single definition for what causes it in the first place. However, you can generally link teeth grinding to some of the following factors;
- Medication can cause teeth grinding as a side effect. This is usually caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) which is a form of antidepressant. It’s also been linked to sertraline, fluoxetine and also paroxetine.
- Anxiety and stress can also cause teeth grinding in patients. Those that suffer from anxiety and stress might not realize that they’re grinding their teeth, and it can also happen when the patient is asleep.
- Dietary factors such as drinking lots of caffeine and alcohol can be linked to teeth grinding. Recreational drug use and smoking have also been linked to it.
- Sleeping disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can be the cause of teeth grinding during your sleep. Those that experience sleep paralysis, hallucinations when sleeping and light sleepers are also likely to grind their teeth.
As the exact cause of teeth grinding can be difficult to pinpoint, it’s important to consult professionals such as Dr. Doris Giraldo to learn more about teeth grinding and what lifestyle factors could be causing it. This is something that is unique to each patient, but we pride ourselves on our ability to offer a exceptional level of care to each individual. If you’d like to learn more about teeth grinding or would like to schedule a consultation to help with your condition, get in touch with us today and we’d be happy to help.
What Are the Symptoms of Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding is usually seen as a likely cause for bruxism, but most people don’t know the symptoms of teeth grinding and, as a result, aren’t able to react and seek assistance before it’s too late. Here are some of the symptoms you should be aware of if you find yourself grinding your teeth:
- Worn-down teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Broken fillings
- Chipped teeth
- Lacerations in the mouth
- Difficulty sleeping
- Stiffness and pain in your jaw
- Aching muscles around your mouth
- Earaches
- Facial pain
- Headaches
Your partner may also identify that you are grinding your teeth in your sleep due to the sounds you make. If this is the case, then it’s vital that you seek professional assistance from dental experts such as Dr. Giraldo as soon as possible. If you are facing any of these other symptoms, such as facial pain, difficulty sleeping, and headaches, then it’s a good idea to schedule a consultation with New Dimension Dentistry to identify if you are at risk of bruxism. With our personalized level of care, we’ll be able to give you the right advice and assistance to help you solve your teeth grinding habit.
How Is Bruxism Treated?
Night guards are helpful for bruxism caused by sleep disorders, crooked or missing teeth, or stress. Custom-made by Dr. Giraldo from soft material to fit your teeth, the night guard slips over the upper and lower teeth and prevents contact between them. It helps relieve some of the pressure of grinding or clenching, which can damage delicate jaw joints.
Treatment for those with an abnormal bite may involve reducing the “high spots” on one or more teeth. For serious cases, Dr. Giraldo may suggest reshaping or reconstructing the biting surfaces with dental inlays or dental crowns.
Night Guards
Teeth grinding can be a major issue for people, but one of the best ways to deal with it is using custom-made night guards by Dr. Giraldo and her team at New Dimension Dentistry. Custom night guards can help relieve much of the pressure of grinding which can damage your teeth, but many dental practices offer standard and generic solutions that aren’t comfortable.
To help deal with this, New Dimension Dentistry focuses on creating comfortable fitted night guards that have a much higher chance of success compared to mass-produced varieties. This will offer you far more comfort while helping you stop your teeth grinding habit, all at an affordable price. If you’re interested in custom night guards, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today and schedule a consultation with our friendly and experienced team.
Why Choose New Dimension Dentistry?
New Dimension Dentistry is one of the best dental practices in Midtown East NYC. Led by Dr. Giraldo, she and her team provide patients with a full suite of dental services. Whether it’s identifying bruxism, cosmetic dentistry or general oral care, she and her team are confident that they can provide an outstanding level of service regardless of the procedure.
Our goal is to provide an exceptional level of service to all of our patients. We focus on offering a level of care that ensures each patient is getting the attention they need and deserve. By combining our approach with the latest dental technology, we’ve developed state-of-the-art treatments that provide our patients with quick, efficient and affordable dental care. We do this in a friendly and laid-back atmosphere without making our patients feel anxious or confused with difficult terms and lingo.
Schedule a Consultation Today
So if you’re looking to deal with your teeth grinding issue or are interested in night mouth guards, we’d love to hear from you. Dr. Giraldo and her team at New Division Dentistry would be more than happy to help you with any dental concerns that you might have. Simply contact us today to schedule a consultation, or let us know about any concerns and questions that you have.
