Teeth grinding is more than just a dental problem. If you are often clenching and grinding, either during the night or during the day, then it could be an indication that you are experiencing full-body stress. It’s critical to talk to a dentist right away to explore potential treatment options, helping to reduce the long-term effects of teeth grinding.
Most patients with bruxism clench and grind their teeth while sleeping. But patients with severe tension in their jaws can also experience symptoms during the day.
The problem is that most people don’t realize they are grinding teeth until it’s too late. When the problem is finally diagnosed, you might already have damaged teeth. But regular visits to a dentist can be a great way to diagnose bruxism and TMJ in the earliest stages, helping you get treatment before more serious damage occurs to your teeth.
The reality is that an estimated 1 in 3 people grind their teeth at some point in their lives. This condition is quite common! But the good news is that treatment can be relatively easy for mild or moderate cases.
Tooth Grinding: Minor to Severe Damage
In the beginning, tooth grinding might seem like a simple inconvenience. But if the condition goes untreated, it can eventually lead to more serious damage that requires dental restorations.
The first type of damage that occurs is an erosion of your tooth enamel, causing the teeth to lose the protective layer. As a result, the right of decay and cavities increases. Over time, continued teeth grinding can lead to chips, cracks, and even deeper fractures within the teeth. Usually, this damage affects the molars since that is the area of the mouth where the most pressure is located when biting down.
You might notice an increase in tooth sensitivity and pain, and these symptoms often feel worse when you are eating or drinking things with drastic temperatures (either hot or cold).
Another one of the long-term teeth grinding effects that you might notice is the way your teeth start looking uneven or shorter. The teeth start to wear down over time, which can impact the overall appearance of your smile. Keep in mind that these issues develop slowly. You might not notice the changes in your teeth at first – it’s the unaddressed teeth clamping that leads to more serious damage over time.
Eventually, you will need to pay for more intensive and expensive dental restorations, such as root canals or crowns. If a tooth is severely damaged beyond repair, then there are times when extraction might be necessary.
How Your Jaw is Affected by Teeth Grinding
Not only can your teeth be damaged by grinding and clenching, but this ongoing pressure can also cause strain to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This hinge attaches the jaw to your skull, which can lead to a domino effect of symptoms if you are clenching your teeth.
If there are related issues with your jaw, then symptoms that can occur include clicking, popping, jaw locking, and a limited range of motion. You might notice these symptoms when you are eating, or even with seemingly simple movements to open your mouth or talk.
The tension continues to spread to other areas. If you have chronic tension in your jaw, then it’s likely that you are also experiencing tension and pain in the neck, shoulders, face, and head. Some patients with TMJ and jaw clenching eventually have migraines and headaches because of the ongoing stress and pressure.
Is Bruxism Impacting Your Sleep Quality?
You might not be aware of the issues, but it’s possible that teeth grinding and clenching could be impacting the quality of your sleep. Usually, nighttime grinding happens unconsciously. But even if you are feeling like you are sleeping through the night, the pressure and stress in your jaw could be interrupting your sleep cycles. If you are a light sleeper, then you might be waking up throughout the night.
So, even when you spend 8 hours in bed, you might wake up feeling unrested in the morning. This can contribute to your stress, which might increase the likelihood of more teeth grinding. It’s a chicken-or-the-egg situation. It’s an ongoing cycle: the lack of sleep reduces energy, takes a toll on your focus, and increases your stress, which makes it harder to sleep well at night.
If you have a sleeping partner: ask them if they hear grinding noises during the night. As the symptoms progress, the grinding can become so loud that it could even impact the quality of your partner’s sleep as well.
The Impact of Chronic Pain and Tension
While the physical damage is a big concern, especially because of the dental restorations that might be needed in the future, there are other hidden consequences of teeth grinding.
Living in chronic tension and pain can wear a person down over time, taking an emotional toll. Some people might start to experience a lack of confidence because they are embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth.
Also, the poor-quality sleep can contribute to mood swings and irritability. These issues can impact every area of your life, including work, school, and relationships.
Teeth Grinding Treatments That Work
Even if your teeth grinding symptoms are minor, it’s important to seek treatment immediately. The earlier you treat the issue, the easier it is to alleviate the symptoms and reduce the risk of more serious damage to your teeth.
The most common treatment option is to wear a custom bite guard. This dental appliance is created to fit your teeth perfectly, helping to prevent your upper and lower teeth from coming into contact while you are sleeping. The bite guard relaxes your jaw at night, helping to reduce tension and alleviate symptoms throughout the day.
FAQ
What happens when you grind your teeth for years?
Over time, your enamel will start to wear down. Untreated teeth grinding can also damage the jaw joint, increase facial tension and pain, and could even lead to tooth loss.
Is teeth grinding damage permanent?
Certain types of damage, such as cracks or chips on the teeth are permanent. But dental restorations can be used to strengthen the tooth and improve your smile.
Can you reverse damage from teeth grinding?
This wear and tear can’t be reversed, because your teeth don’t heal from cracks and chips. For this reason, it’s important to be proactive with preventive treatments, such as wearing a night guard while sleeping.
What damage can grinding teeth cause?
When you are grinding your teeth, it can cause the teeth to break down over time. Additionally, you may start having problems with your jaw, headaches, and poor sleep quality.
Can teeth grinding damage nerves?
Eventually, severe teeth grinding can expose the nerves in the teeth, which increases your pain and discomfort.
Talk to Our Expert Dental Team About Teeth Grinding Treatments
Don’t take a risk because of long-term teeth grinding effects. If you are experiencing symptoms related to teeth grinding, clenching, and TMJ, then it’s a red flag that you need dental treatments. Our team at myDental is here to help with the treatments that you need.
For more information about maintaining a healthy smile, learn more about our preventive dentistry services. Book an appointment at one of our convenient locations. myDental offers family-focused dental services for patients of all ages.