Save the Grinding for Coffee Beans and Give your Teeth a Break

 at Riverside Dental Group, help patients dealing with teeth grinding through education and treatment.

The Basics of Bruxism

Habitual (even if it’s subconscious) clenching and grinding of teeth can cause severe tension in your jaw and mouth. Offshoots of a condition like bruxism include headaches, soreness, loose teeth, earaches, and cracked/fractured teeth. Many long term teeth grinders end up damaging their TMJs (temporomandibular joints) and potentially developing a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Grinding your teeth on a regular basis can actually wear away your tooth enamel. Once that hard layer of protection is damaged, cavities are more likely to develop. Furthermore, teeth can get worn down to the nubs, requiring crowns or even full tooth replacement

Bruxism Causes

Many factors can cause a development of bruxism. Missing teeth, bite misalignment, abnormal bites, chronic stress, and anxiety are all reasons that someone might begin grinding their teeth. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can also lead to bruxism. In the case of OSA, teeth grinding is usually a side effect of the gasping for breath in your sleep that goes along with momentary lapses of breathing with sleep apnea.

Relief from Teeth Grinding

If you feel unidentified tension or soreness in your back teeth or jaw area, you should make an immediate appointment with your Woodcrest, CA dentists. Even if you are unaware of your bruxism, we can help to detect signs at your regular bi-annual checkups. Customized mouthguards are one treatment option that will protect your teeth from clenching and grinding while you sleep.

Teeth Grinding Relief from Woodcrest, CA Dentists

Neglecting your dental health can add more stress to your life. Keep up with checkups and cleanings twice a year so that your teeth remain healthy. To schedule a checkup and cleaning with your Woodcrest, CA dentists, call our 92504 dentist office at (951) 689-5031. We offer comprehensive dentistry to patients of all ages in Riverside and surrounding areas.