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You won’t notice it immediately, but if you constantly grind your teeth, then eventually, the friction and pressure can damage your teeth and exhaust the jaws that move them. The thing about teeth-grinding, however, is that patients who do it dangerously often typically do so in their sleep, and therefore aren’t aware of it until the damage occurs. In case you grind your teeth (known as bruxism) and don’t realize it, visiting your dentist for routine exams and cleanings might offer the best chance of detecting and treating it.

Long-Term Effects

Over time, rubbing your teeth together can wear down their chewing surfaces. As the surface of your bite changes, so does its balance, and to compensate, your jaw muscles and joints will have to work overtime. Since your bite is imbalanced, some teeth might be forced to sustain more pressure than usual, and can chip and crack from the undue force. Your jaw’s joints (TMJs) can also suffer damage, become inflamed, or be forced out of alignment.

How to Stop Bruxism

Treating bruxism requires a unique, patient-centric approach, and often focuses on addressing the cause of the condition and restoring any damage, if necessary.

Crooked teeth

Like worn teeth, crooked teeth disturb your bite’s balance, and an uncomfortable jaw can shift, forcing your teeth against each other. If malocclusion is the cause, then stopping bruxism could mean straightening your teeth with orthodontic treatment.

TMJ disorder

Teeth-grinding can increase your risk of TMJ disorder, but it can be a symptom of it, as well. Treating TMJ disorder may involve a custom-designed mouthguard and/or oral splints to help realign your jaw, relaxation therapy to relieve chronic tension in your jaw muscles, or other case-specific treatment.

Excessive stress

If you suffer from chronic stress and anxiety, then teeth-grinding might be a physical manifestation of the tension. Taking a vacation, taking up a hobby, or learning other stress-relieving techniques can help you find relief from teeth-grinding, as well as other stress-related oral and overall health issues.

ABOUT YOUR RIVERSIDE DENTISTS:

With offices throughout Riverside Country, including Corona, Temecula, and Moreno Valley, Riverside Dental Group is happy to provide advanced general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry services to patients of all ages. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call our office today at (951) 689-5031.