A dull headache upon waking up. A tight jaw during breakfast. A sharp pain when chewing. These are just a few quiet signs of teeth grinding.
Teeth grinding, clenching, or gnashing during sleep or waking hours is also known as a condition called bruxism. Many people don’t know they have this habit until a spouse hears grinding at night, a dentist finds worn tooth enamel, or sudden pain develops. But why do some suffer with bruxism, how does one know if they have it, and how is it treated? Let’s find out.
Why Do Some People Grind Their Teeth?
There is no one single cause for bruxism. Living with extreme stress, anxiety, intense concentration, poor sleep, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco use, and genetics may all contribute to the problem beginning.
Some medications prescribed for depression, seizure disorders, or ADHD increase the likelihood of bruxism in certain patients. Those diagnosed with sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing problems are also more at risk for nighttime grinding.
Whether grinding occurs during the day or at night, and whether it’s obvious or not, this habit puts unhealthy pressure on the teeth, jaw muscles, and dental restorations. Recognizing the symptoms of bruxism may prevent a minor problem from turning into an urgent dental situation.
Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism usually provides noticeable clues before damage and pain appear. Morning headaches are one of the most common warning signs. Here are some additional symptoms to watch for:
- Teeth with small chips or flattened/shortened biting surfaces
- Oral sensitivity to heat, cold, or sweets
- Tooth or jaw discomfort or pain while chewing
- Loosening teeth or restorations
- Worn enamel
- Repeated cracks in teeth or restorations such as fillings, crowns, bridges, or dentures
- Clicking, popping, or reduced mobility of the jaw
- Pain in the jaw joints (TMJ) near the ears.
The symptoms above deserve a professional dental evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment of bruxism help prevent cracked teeth, broken restorations, severe sensitivity, and other problems that require same-day dental care.
Is Grinding Ever a Dental Emergency?
Teeth grinding itself rarely creates a life-threatening emergency. The damage caused by grinding, however, may require prompt treatment. Contact an emergency dentist if you experience the following:
Cracked or Broken Teeth
Repeated grinding weakens tooth enamel and places pressure on existing cracks in a tooth, eventually causing it to chip or break, often while eating.
If you experience a cracked or broken tooth, rinse your mouth gently with warm water and save any broken tooth pieces. Avoid chewing on the damaged side and avoid hard foods, ice, nuts, popcorn kernels, and sticky candy until a dentist evaluates the tooth.
The sooner you see the dentist, the better chance they have of preserving the remaining part of your natural tooth.
Damaged or Lost Fillings, Crowns, Dentures or Bridges
Grinding places stress on fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, and other restorations. As a result, patients with bruxism may experience a loosening crown, a filling that falls out, or a denture that cracks under the repeated pressure.
Collect and keep any restoration pieces in a clean container and bring them to your urgent dental appointment with our emergency dentist in Yuba City. Never attempt to reattach the pieces with household glue, which often damages the tooth and surrounding tissue and makes professional dental repair more difficult. Your Yuba City dentist will help determine whether the restoration can be repaired, recemented, or replaced.
Consistent or Severe Tooth or Jaw Pain
Tooth or jaw pain that disrupts your sleep, makes eating difficult, worsens as the day goes on, or spreads to the face, ear, temple, or neck deserves prompt care.
If your jaw locks in place, becomes difficult to move, or causes intense pain, it usually points to a problem with the joint or surrounding muscles and should be examined by a dentist.
Facial swelling accompanied by fever, pus around the gums, or trouble swallowing may signal an infection that requires immediate professional treatment.
Treatment depends on the source and severity of the damage. Our first priority at the Yuba City Dentistry Group, is to relieve your pain and stabilize the affected tooth or restoration. Treatment then focuses on the source of the problem, protecting the repaired area, and reducing future grinding pressure.
How to Prevent Grinding Damage
Preventing grinding is better than having to treat it. Here are some recommendations if you believe you are experiencing the beginning signs of teeth grinding:
Wear a Custom Nightguard
A custom nightguard creates a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth. It helps distribute pressure and reduces direct contact between the teeth.
While store-bought guards certainly can help, a custom appliance that fits the patient’s bite and dental work more precisely is best. A custom guard provides better protection for tooth enamel, fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants.
Be Aware of Daytime Clenching
During your daily activities, the lips may touch lightly, but the upper and lower teeth should remain slightly apart. Unfortunately, many people have the habit of clenching their teeth together. This habit can be broken by consciously relaxing the shoulders, loosening the jaw, and letting the tongue rest naturally. If stress is causing you to clench your teeth, incorporating brief walks, breathing exercises, stretching, counseling, or quiet breaks throughout your day may also reduce tension.
Improve Your Sleep Habits
A consistent bedtime routine helps reduce nighttime grinding for some patients. Limit caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime. Reduce TV and screen use before sleep.
If you snore loudly, gasp during sleep, or feel unusually tired upon waking, you should discuss the possibility of sleep apnea or other breathing problems with your healthcare provider.
Review Medications With Your Provider
Some medications increase the risk of clenching or grinding in some patients. Ask your provider to review your medication, dosage, timing, or other possible factors to determine if they are the cause of your brusixm. Never stop or change a prescription without speaking with the prescribing healthcare provider.
Schedule Regular Dental Exams
Routine dental visits are a must. This regularity lets your dentist track changes in your oral health. New signs of enamel wear, small fractures, bite changes, or damage to a restoration before pain develops may indicate the beginning stages of bruxism. Early diagnosis and treatment of bruxism usually prevents more extensive treatment later.
For additional guidance on controlling teeth grinding and protecting your teeth, speak with the dental team at the Yuba City Dentistry Group.
Emergency Dental Care in Yuba City
At the Yuba City Dentistry Group, we want to help all our patients maintain and improve their oral health. Our dental team provides preventive care in addition to emergency dental care for severe tooth pain, broken teeth, lost fillings and crowns, infections, and other urgent dental injuries. Contact the Yuba City Dentistry Group today to receive a thorough evaluation, prompt pain relief, clear guidance, and treatment that protects your long-term oral health.
