Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, often occurs subconsciously during sleep or periods of stress. Many people grind their teeth for a long time without realizing it before symptoms appear. Untreated grinding can gradually damage your oral health and affect the appearance of your smile, which is why it’s important to catch and address this habit early.
Keep reading to learn more about the long-term effects of grinding your teeth, some warning signs to look out for, and what to do if you grind your teeth.
What Is Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding can happen when you’re awake or asleep. It’s caused by stress and anxiety, bite misalignment, sleep disorders, certain medications, and lifestyle factors like caffeine or alcohol. You may not even know you’re grinding your teeth because it often happens at night and symptoms develop gradually. A partner or dentist is often the first to notice.
Warning signs that you may be grinding your teeth include:
- Morning headaches
- Jaw stiffness or soreness
- Ear pain without an infection
- Tooth sensitivity
- Chipped or flattened teeth
- Indentations along the tongue or inside of the cheeks
- Clicking or popping jaw joints
- A partner hearing grinding sounds during sleep
How Grinding Your Teeth Changes Your Smile
Grinding your teeth can affect not only your smile’s appearance, but your oral health, as well. Let’s take a closer look at some of the destructive effects of bruxism.
Cosmetic Issues
Grinding your teeth can have a significant impact on your smile’s appearance. All that extra stress on your teeth can wear away the enamel, causing your teeth to become worn and flattened. Teeth can become shorter and flatter over time, and as the natural contours of your teeth are lost, it can make your smile appear uneven or misshapen.
Chips and Cracks
Chips and cracks can occur, too. Excessive pressure weakens the tooth structure, causing small chips that may become larger fractures over time. Severe cracks may require restorative treatment like crowns.
Increased Tooth Sensitivity
As enamel is gradually worn down, the underlying dentin is exposed, leading to increased sensitivity. Eating and drinking hot, cold, and sweet foods and beverages may become more uncomfortable and even painful.
Jaw Pain and TMJ Problems
Grinding your teeth strains your jaw muscles and joints. Many people with bruxism experience morning headaches and facial soreness. Over time, untreated bruxism can contribute to TMJ disorders.
Gum and Tooth Support Issues
Excessive pressure on your teeth puts stress on the supporting tissues, such as the gums and jawbone. In severe cases, teeth can become loose because the supporting tissues have been damaged.
Damaged Restorations
Restorations like fillings, crowns, veneers, and bridges can experience additional stress due to teeth grinding. They may chip, crack, or wear prematurely, requiring repairs and replacements more often than usual.
How Your Dentist Can Diagnose Bruxism
It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your dentist if your tooth sensitivity is increasing, you frequently wake up with headaches or jaw pain, your teeth appear shorter or flatter, your existing dental work keeps breaking, or your spouse or a family member notices you grinding during your sleep.
Your dentist will perform a comprehensive examination, looking for patterns of tooth wear, checking jaw movement and muscle tenderness, and evaluating existing dental restorations for damage. They’ll also review your lifestyle habits and stress levels, assess your bite alignment, and recommend additional evaluation if they suspect you may have a sleep disorder.
Treatment Options to Protect Your Smile
Fortunately, there are things you can do to help you stop grinding your teeth and protect your smile. Your dentist may recommend a custom night guard to protect your teeth from grinding forces during sleep, helping reduce additional wear and damage.
It’s also important to address factors that may be contributing to your bruxism — this may mean stress management techniques, bite treatments, treating underlying sleep issues, and lifestyle modifications.
If grinding your teeth has led to damage, restorative treatments can help restore function and appearance. You may benefit from dental bonding for minor chips or crowns for severe wear.
Go From Grinding to Grinning at VIP Smiles
Grinding your teeth causes more than just temporary discomfort — it can permanently affect your smile. If you’re dealing with bruxism, don’t wait until costly damage occurs — contact VIP Smiles today to schedule an appointment and get the dental care you need.
