Are you looking for the best teeth grinding information? If you are currently grinding your teeth and think you are experiencing pain related to your grinding, it is definitely in your best interest for you to find a teeth grinding solution that will work for you.
Teeth grinding is a relatively common dental problem. Whether you have recently started to grind your teeth or have been grinding for many years, this action can indeed cause you pain. Some people will grind their teeth during the day, which means that they usually are aware of what they are doing the grinding. However, some people only grind their teeth at night. When someone grinds his or her teeth during the night, it is likely that he or she will not even know that he or she are doing it, until they start feeling some of the repercussions.
Teeth grinding overview
Grinding one’s teeth are also known as clenching one’s teeth, gnashing one’s teeth and bruxism. The act of grinding is one that needs to be stopped as soon as entirely possible because of its potential to cause long-term damage to the teeth and jaw.
Reasons for grinding
There are many different reasons why someone would grind their teeth, including but not limited to being under a great deal of stress, feeling frustrated, dealing with a lot of tension, having family members who also grind their teeth and being diagnosed with a mental or physical health problem, i.e., dementia, sleep apnea, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Can teeth grinding cause pain?
Yes, when someone grinds their teeth, it can cause them to experience pain. While some people who slightly grind their teeth will tend to only experience minimal or no pain at all, most people who grind their teeth will experience moderate pain, with some experiencing severe pain.
The following is a list of some of the more common problems people who grind their teeth on a regular basis will experience:
- Headaches, which can turn into migraines.
- Facial pain, especially in the jaw area.
- Earache, which can occur in one or both ears.
- Damage to their teeth.
- Damage to their gums.
- Sores on the inside of the cheek or gums.
- Jaw problems.
Damage to their teeth, which includes wearing away the tooth’s enamel, having teeth that are now flattened, having chips or fractures in the teeth, having loose teeth, having teeth that are now sensitive to hot or cold.
Damage to their gums, which includes receding gums.
Sores on the inside of the cheek or gums, which can be due to chewing or irritation.
Jaw problems, including temporomandibular joint disorders that can cause permanent jaw damage.
In pain from grinding your teeth?
Since grinding can cause you to experience pain, the sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you will be able to be free from your pain. While there are a few things that you can do at home yourself to help ease any pain you may be experiencing, like managing any stress, applying ice and not chewing gum, seeking the assistance of a dental professional can provide you with a proper treatment plan.
How to reduce teeth grinding
There are a number of things you can try that may help if you grind your teeth.
Do
- Find ways to relax – for example, by doing breathing exercises, listening to music and taking regular exercise
- Try to improve your sleep by going to bed at the same time every night, relaxing before bedtime and making sure your bedroom is dark and quiet
- Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have jaw pain or swelling
- Use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel for 20 to 30 minutes to help reduce jaw pain or swelling
- Have regular dental check-ups
Don’t
- Do not smoke
- Do not drink too much alcohol
- Do not take drugs like ecstasy or cocaine
- Do not chew gum or eat hard foods if you have tooth or jaw pain
Why is teeth grinding harmful?
Teeth grinding can cause several problems:
- Changes in how you look (aesthetic problems) and your facial profile.
- Fractured or loosened teeth.
- Harming your TMJs and jaw and neck muscles.
- Loss of teeth.
- Wearing down of teeth.
Can children have teeth grinding?
Like adults, children can have bruxism. Parents may hear their children grinding their teeth in their sleep. But bruxism in children may not lead to long-term damage. Children’s teeth and jaws change quickly, and they may outgrow bruxism by the time they lose their baby teeth.
Still, some children continue to grind their teeth until their teenage years. And regardless of age, teeth grinding in children can lead to:
- Headaches.
- Jaw pain.
- TMJ disorders (jaw clicking and other problems).
- Wear and tear on the teeth.
While stress is a main cause of bruxism in adults, that’s not usually the case with children. Teeth grinding in children may come from:
- Allergies.
- Misaligned teeth.
- Mouth irritation.
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
- Heredity.
Talk to a healthcare provider or dentist if your child’s teeth look worn or you hear grinding. Also get any complaints of jaw or teeth pain checked out. Your provider may recommend a night guard for teeth grinding. This night guard can help until they outgrow bruxism. If the bruxism turns out to be stress related, providers can also recommend stress relief options.