What is Teeth Grinding?
Technically known as Bruxism, teeth grinding involves unconsciously grinding or clenching teeth. With teeth clenching, you may not realise you are harming yourself until symptoms start to rise; and even then, many people don’t link their symptoms to teeth grinding.
If left untreated, teeth grinding damage can lead to negative effects such as tooth damage, headaches, neck and TMJ (the jaw joint) pain. The main form of damage is through the wearing away of tooth enamel, caused by the forceful contact between teeth when they are clenched together.
At Ashwood Dental our dentists are up to date with the latest procedures in TMJ treatment to help you get relief from pain and other grinding symptoms.
What are the causes of teeth grinding?
Teeth Grinding can have a number of different causes. These include:
- Emotional Stress
- Medications
- Illness
- Dehydration
- Sleeping Problems
- Poor Tooth Alignment/ Bite
- Issues with dental work
What does Teeth Grinding Treatment Involve?
If there’s an obvious reason why bruxism is occurring, such as one of the causes listed above, our TMJ dentist will suggest addressing this cause through teeth grinding treatment. This may include:
- Practicing stress management
- Occlusal splint therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Surgery
If the cause of your teeth clenching isn’t obvious or cannot be treated, steps will be taken to protect the teeth from damage when they’re ground together. A custom dental splint or a night guard can be constructed to stop teeth from clenching together, alleviating many of the symptoms of bruxism. Often made from acrylic or another comfortable material, they easily fit over the upper or lower teeth to keep them separated.
To learn more about teeth grinding treatment, contact our friendly team today on (03) 9885 2712 or book your appointment online here.
