Does Grinding Damage Teeth?
Bruxism, teeth grinding, or teeth clenching is the involuntary squeezing of the teeth during sleep, which is not noticed by the person doing it. Bad sounds can be caused by squeezing the teeth. This phenomenon, which is not an ordinary situation, may have physical and psychological reasons, but the most common reason is stress. With the increase of stress, the action of teeth grinding also increases. The situation of teeth clenching is sometimes so severe that between 5% and 10% of the people who do it might cause the fracture of the fillings in their teeth and even break the main teeth with the pressure applied to each other. Most of the people who experience this distress may experience a severe headache when they wake up in the morning, difficulty in opening their mouth, discomfort from the sound coming from the jaw at night, and even face-neck-jaw muscle pain. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to have a tooth tightening treatment. Among the symptoms of this type of health problem (Bruxism), which are not noticed or ignored for a long time, damage such as chipped teeth, erosion, shaking, gum disease and bone loss are the most common symptoms. Hot and cold sensitivity, jaw pain, and limitation of movement can additionally represent signs of bruxism. As a result of damage to the jaw joint, joint pain, voice or jaw locking, rarely a headache, neck pain, triggered migraine attacks can also be counted among the symptoms of bruxism. Patients may not notice the situation because bruxism or teeth clenching often occurs only during sleep. In this case, the discomfort can be diagnosed by the dentist because of an oral, dental, and jaw joint examination. In advanced cases, joint pain can be confused with an earache, and muscle aches can be confused with migraine pain.
Why does teeth grinding occur?
It is believed to be composed of many varied factors. While it varies from patient to patient, it can occur from psychological, systemic, and dental pain. Considering from a dental perspective; if the fillings or prostheses are made larger or smaller than they should be, it is a common reason that the teeth do not fit properly in the closing process. While they are among the most general reasons, these can be grouped under the main heading due to daily stress or personal troubles. In addition to these, it is the cause of Bruxism in some situations such as deep regret, insomnia, nervousness, jealousy, obsession, emotional stress. It has been determined that it is more common to rigorous, hasty, aggressive people. Intestinal disorders, malnutrition, allergies, and endocrine problems endure the primary ones. When the intestines are filled with excess, it activates the nerve cells in the brain, digestive enzymes increase, stomach acid increases, saliva in the mouth increases, chewing muscles start to contract, and bruxism is seen. Squeaking may occur.
What can Bruxism cause?
The gaps between the teeth may increase and the teeth may shake. When the person opens and closes his mouth, sounds might be heard from the joints. Due to the pressure on the teeth, fractures may occur in the teeth or fillings. Cystic formations may occur in the tooth roots due to minor traumas. The teeth may become more sensitive due to the abrasion of the tooth surface due to the continuous friction of the teeth, and if this situation continues, even more, the nerves might be seen from the surface. Although jaw joint pains occur, we may face pain reflected in the ear, eye, tooth, and head area. First, the pain it causes may be muscle pain.
When the person ignores this feeling and continues, they wake up in the morning, and they may feel that there is sand in his mouth. This abrasion is due to the tooth or tooth filling parts being worn out.
Who Is Teeth Grinding Treatment For?
Individuals who exhibit teeth-grinding behavior for a long time may experience the following problems over time:
- Jaw pain that is felt especially when waking up but sometimes may spread over the course of the day.
- Ear and a headache that may be caused by contraction of the person while sleeping.
- Sensitivity and stinging problems because of erosion and destruction of teeth
- The erosion of the teeth and their inability to perform their primitive chewing functions.
- Gingival recession and similar problems due to the discomfort of the gums (Chained teeth and jaw problems due to gingival recession can also cause tooth loss).
- Not inducing enough sleep efficiently and waking up tired.
Individuals who experience one or more of the prior conditions can apply to their dentist. Our dentist can direct you to a neurologist or psychologist after the examination, if necessary. Because teeth grinding can on top of that be a psychological defense mechanism that is usually developed because of traumatic experiences.
How to Prevent Teeth Grinding?
Many dental problems can be caused by teeth grinding problems, this is accurate. But at the same time, this type of problem can be a harbinger of a severe psychological or neurological problem you are experiencing. Therefore, to prevent tooth grinding problems, it is recommended that you apply to your dentist and then to other health units with the direction of your dentist.
To prevent teeth grinding,
- Reduce your stress.
- When you find yourself clenching your teeth, try setting your tongue between your teeth. This behavior can support you to overcome your fluidity by preventing you from grinding your teeth.
- Teeth grinding often develops due to stress factors. If you have a stress-intensive life routine, you may prefer to seek support from a psychologist or psychiatrist.
- Measures you take before going to bed at night can also encourage you to avoid involuntary creaking at night. After wetting a towel with hot water and tightening it well, you can apply it 4-5 times on the painful muscles of the jaw and neck area. This warm compress can relax the muscles in the jaw and neck area.
