Is Grinding Your Teeth Something You Should Worry About?

If you’ve ever caught yourself grinding your teeth and didn’t develop any serious dental issues because of it, then you might scoff at the idea of teeth-grinding being a serious threat. However, when you grind your teeth constantly (a condition known as bruxism), it might be one of the more impactful and immediate threats to your dental health. Unchecked bruxism can lead to several complications, including excessive tooth wear and various forms of tooth damage. Today, we examine a few facts about bruxism to help you determine if you should worry about your teeth-grinding habit.

A Few Facts About Bruxism

  • Bruxism specifically refers to the constant, unconscious grinding of your teeth and does not include the occasional instance of clenching your teeth. There are many different potential reasons for bruxism, including an imbalanced bite caused by crooked teeth, excessive levels of stress, and more.
  • If you hesitate to treat bruxism, then it create a cycle of bite problems that only grows worse over time. For example, the pressure on your jaw’s joints (TMJs) can lead to TMJ disorder, which exacerbates bruxism due to spasming TMJs and jaw muscles.
  • Because bruxism can have many different causes, treatment for the condition depends on your unique needs and circumstances. For instance, you may need to correct bite alignment by straightening crooked teeth. However, many patients can effectively address bruxism with a custom-designed oral appliance that protects their teeth from grinding while they sleep at night.

Ask Your Dentist About Teeth-Grinding

Grinding your teeth may be one of the biggest worries for your smile, especially when you do it so much that you don’t always realize it. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.