Are You Guilty of Grinding? Find out Why This Habit Is so Damaging

Dentist LeedsDo you occasionally find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth? It’s probably something that most of us do when my annoyed or upset or simply a little stressed, but some of us have made it a habit and even worse we might not even be aware we doing it. Teeth grinding, or bruxism can occur on a regular basis, and it can do a great deal of damage to your teeth and gums. One of the problems with this habit is that it can often occur at night, and many sufferers are completely unaware they are doing it. It’s not exactly known why people grind their teeth, but it is thought it has something to do with being under a lot of stress or anxiety.

Do you think you might be grinding your teeth, or has your sleeping partner complained about the noise at night? If so you need to take action, and it’s best to contact Dr David Brown at Leeds City Dentalcare to make an appointment for proper diagnosis with our skilled dentist in Leeds. But what are the signs that this might be happening? Common signs of teeth grinding includes:

  • Waking up with a persistent headache
  • Having a sore jaw
  • Noticing your teeth have become more sensitive recently, especially to hot and cold foods
  • Your teeth might begin to look worn or chipped due to excessive grinding

If any of these sound familiar, or if you’re simply overdue for a check-up then it’s worth booking that appointment. Early intervention could save your teeth from more extensive damage. Treatment will probably involve taking measures to protect your teeth and gums from further damage, and this is something that’s usually done by supplying you with a mouthguard to wear at night. This would be custom-made for you so it will be comfortable to wear, and will prevent your teeth from meeting so you cannot grind anymore. Teeth grinding is often a learned behaviour, and its prevention can be enough to break the habit. There’s also various other things you can try at home.

The first thing to do is to try and work out why you’re grinding, and if you think it is down to stress that it’s important to try to alleviate this somehow. If you can’t get rid of the stressful situation then at least try to think of ways of relaxing more, perhaps by taking more exercise or doing something else that take your mind off things. Bruxism has been associated with alcohol, and with foods that contain caffeine. It can help to cut back on these, at least until you manage to stop grinding. Try to actively relax your jaw throughout the day, and if you do find yourself clenching your teeth together make conscious efforts to relax your jaw as this will help get your muscles used to being in this position. Using a warm flannel or other moist heat can help relieve pain in the jaw, and you might also want to try some gentle stretching exercises to help ease the muscles in your face.

What Will Happen If I Don’t Seek Treatment for Bruxism?

If you don’t seek treatment for bruxism then it’s likely your teeth will require extensive restorative work as they will gradually become worn down. Bruxism also affects the gums, and you might notice your gums begin to recede, exposing the roots of your teeth and increasing the risk of decay. Long-term bruxism can also do extensive damage to your temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that moves your jaw open and shut and from side to side, and it can become quite inflamed and painful.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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Are Your Dental Problems Related to Stress?

Dental technology has moved on significantly over the past few years and it’s amazing what can be done to restore or replace teeth. In spite of all these advances, dental problems related to stress still present dentists with a challenge.

Stress and Its Effect on Oral and General Health

Stress is already known to be a contributing factor towards numerous health problems including autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases and the connection to dental problems is nothing new as it has been well known for hundreds or even thousands of years. Common problems related to stress includes mouth ulcers, teeth grinding or bruxism and periodontal or gum disease. Being under stress can worsen existing gum disease, and can lead to inattention towards oral hygiene and an increase in unhealthy eating habits.

Mouth ulcers can be triggered by a stressful event or by skin abrasion, sunburn or fever. They can appear on the inside of the mouth and look almost white or greyish with a red border. Nobody’s quite sure what causes mouth ulcers but it’s thought it could be due to the immune system being impaired, or could be viral or due to bacteria. In addition to stress, it’s thought being overtired and having allergies can also increase the risk of getting them. Most mouth ulcers disappear without any medical intervention, but it is possible to buy over-the-counter products that will help reduce the pain and irritation. It also helps to avoid spicy foods or highly acidic foods. If you have a mouth ulcer that fails to heal then make an appointment to see one of our dentist in Leeds just in case it’s due to some other problem.

Teeth grinding can do a loss of damage to the teeth and gums and is often subconscious. It usually occurs during the night and one of the main symptoms is waking up with a headache or a sore and aching jaw. If you’re already prone to teeth grinding or bruxism then stress may well make it worse. It’s really important to seek treatment from Leeds City Dentalcare as this problem can damage your temporomandibular joint which is a joint responsible for moving the jaw. It’s likely that Dr David Brown will recommend wearing a night guard to help protect your teeth and gums. A night guard works by putting your jaw into a position where the teeth are unable to grind against each other. Bruxism is often considered to be a learned behaviour, so anything that interrupts this behaviour can sometimes be enough to bring it to a halt. However if it is stress related then you’ll need to take action to try to reduce your stress levels.

Inattention to oral hygiene is often a problem during stressful times, as it’s all too easy to ignore the need to brush and floss every day. However failing to do so can worsen any existing dental problems and can lead to new ones developing, in particular gum disease and dental decay.

Poor diet is often a problem during stressful times as it easier to grab something that high in fat and sugar but which takes minimal time to prepare. A diet that’s low on nutrients will affect oral health as your body will have a reduced ability to heal the gum tissues.

Although it may be difficult to concentrate on oral hygiene when under stress, it is vitally important, and having a healthy mouth positively impacts general health and makes it easier to deal with stressful situations.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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