More formally known as “Bruxism”, teeth grinding or clenching is a habit that is quite common. Most often, it’s caused in our patients by stress. Your teeth clenching could be a daytime habit- but it could also be occurring at night when you’re asleep! This habit doesn’t just damage your teeth but also any dental work you may have done! We recommend regular checkups to catch any signs of bruxism with immediate intervention.

Teeth Grinding Causes:

1. Worn teeth

The most obvious sign would be flattened, jagged teeth. This is the effect of constant wear and tear from grinding. If you find your teeth looking shorter, this means you’ve been clenching (with or without your knowledge!). Eventually, as your tooth wears away, this can even expose your inner nerve and become quite painful.

2. Sensitive Teeth

Following our point above, the more your teeth wear down, the more you expose the inner layer of your teeth. This inner layer is not meant to come into contact with external factors and doesn’t react well to changes in temperature either. You’ll find yourself becoming increasingly sensitive to cold temperatures.

3. Aches and Pains

One of the most prominent symptoms of teeth grinding is headaches due to the tension that radiates from your jaw. Needless to say your jaw will be quite sore when touched or may even cause pain during the movement itself. And since your ear is quite close to the jaw joint, ear aches are not uncommon!

If you find yourself suffering from Bruxism, Somersmiles Dental has an easy fix! All you need is an orthodontic appliance like a bite splint or mouthguard to avoid the effects of grinding.

Have any queries regarding sedation dentistry?  Feel free to contact our expert team at Somersmiles Dental for more information. Book a visit at Somersmiles Dental in Somerville today to get started.