Many people are subconsciously grinding teeth throughout the day – at work due to stress, perhaps when they’re nervous due to public speaking, or while concentrating. Others maybe be grinding teeth during the night, without even knowing.

Signs that you may be grinding teeth include a sore, tender jaw especially in the morning, or worn down and chipped edges on some of your teeth. Your partner may notice the sound of you grinding teeth during your sleep and often patients don’t realise they grind but their partner insists they do.

Dentists can usually tell whether or not you have been grinding teeth, by checking your occlusion (the way your teeth bite together) and checking for wear facets. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to have a check-up.

So you are grinding teeth, what next? Many patients don’t see an issue with grinding their teeth – they don’t notice it so why does it matter? Grinding teeth can cause lots of extra tension in your jaw joints and muscles which can become a quite painful condition, and can increase the risk of arthritis or osteo-arthritis in those joints.

Grinding teeth can cause aching in the jaw and head.

.

Grinding teeth also wears them down, resulting in jagged, chipped edges of your teeth which can look unattractive and be rough. This is why it’s important to treat grinding teeth.

To treat grinding teeth you can have some chiropractic adjustments and massage, but to stop any damage to your teeth, a dental splint is issued. This is a clear plastic retainer which is customized to your mouth, and fits snugly to your teeth. It creates a physical barrier between your teeth, so you can’t wear them down.

If you’re concerned about grinding teeth, book in to see us at Vivid Dental. We can assess the damage from your grinding teeth and give you the best possible solution or treatment for your particular problem.