If you only occasionally grind your teeth, chances are your teeth did not sustain any damage. However, if you grind your teeth more frequently, you will undoubtedly inflict quite a bit of harm on them and require dental care to address any chips or cracks that occur as a result. Your dentist will also provide preventative measures to keep further damage from occurring.
Understanding Why People Grind Their Teeth
There are numerous reasons why people might grind their teeth. In some cases, it can happen while a person is awake and experiencing a high amount of anxiety and stress. More often than not, however, teeth grinding happens while a person is sleeping and is typically caused by crooked teeth, an abnormal bite, or certain sleep disorders.
Since people usually grind their teeth while they are sleeping, most are unaware that they partake in this bad habit. How can you find out whether you grind your teeth or not? If your jaw is often sore or you often experience dull and constant headaches, these are signs that indicate teeth grinding. If you believe you are grinding your teeth in the middle of the night, schedule an appointment with an experienced dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will be able to look for signs of teeth-grinding, including abnormal wear on your teeth and jaw tenderness.
Although grinding your teeth might not sound like a serious issue, the fact is that if you do nothing to prevent it, the wear and tear your teeth sustain overtime will eventually require major dental work, including crowns, implants, bridges, root canals, or even partial dentures. That is why it is so essential to get this issue diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
Put an End to Grinding Your Teeth
Dentists commonly recommend mouth guards to protect a patient’s teeth. There are also some other tips your dentist might recommend to address this habit. Some of the following recommendations can help reduce or prevent you from grinding your teeth:
- Exercising regularly
- Visiting a physical therapist
- Avoiding or minimizing alcohol consumption
- Reducing your intake of foods or beverages that have caffeine, including coffee or chocolate
- If you grind your teeth during the day, train yourself to place the tip of your tongue between your teeth, which can help your jaw muscles relax
- Do not chew on anything that is not food, including gum, which increases a person’s tendency to grind their teeth
Put an End to Teeth Grinding and Schedule an Appointment with a Family Dentist Today!
Do you suspect you are grinding your teeth at night while you sleep? Doing this repeatedly overtime can inflict serious damage on your teeth, so it is vital to see a dentist as soon as possible to address any damage and prevent further severe wear and tear from occurring. At the Family Dentistry of Knoxville, our team accommodates patients of all ages and is committed to providing exceptional dental care.
Contact our office today at (865) 383-1017 to schedule a free, no-obligation appointment and learn more about our services.