Find Teeth Grinding Relief at Dr. Edward Liu Sedation and Implant Dentistry
If you grind or clench your teeth, you might not give this habit much thought—especially if it happens unconsciously during sleep. However, teeth grinding (bruxism) is far more than a minor oral habit. Over time, it can lead to severe dental and overall health issues. Constant grinding wears down the enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to cavities, cracks, and fractures. In severe cases, it can even result in tooth loss.
Dr. Edward Liu Sedation and Implant Dentistry offers teeth-grinding relief in Holt, Michigan, to protect your oral health and overall well-being. Take control of your smile today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Edward Liu.Â
What is teeth grinding?
Technically called bruxism, teeth grinding is the involuntary grinding and clenching of your teeth when sleeping, although it can happen during the day. You can appreciate your jaws for their incredible work when chewing gum or a chunk of steak. On average, your grinding force is about 162 pounds per square inch, strong enough to break down even the toughest foods.Â
However, when you grind and clench your teeth without food in between them, the forces generated increased to about 250 pounds of pressure. Ouch! As you’d expect, this is bound to cause problems in your smile.Â
What are the symptoms of teeth grinding?
Many people suffer from bruxism without knowing it. Daytime is easy to spot, but bruxism includes jaw clenching, which often goes unnoticed. Nighttime bruxism is even more difficult to notice unless your bed partner notices the teeth-grinding forces.Â
When left untreated, teeth grinding can cause several problems, including:
- Jaw pain: Repeated grinding motions strain your jaw muscles and joints, resulting in soreness and stiffness in your jaws, neck, and ears.
- Tooth damage: Maximum bite force without food to cushion teeth can chip, crack, or fracture enamel. Over time, the breached enamel allows harmful bacteria to penetrate teeth, resulting in tooth decay.
- Gum recession: Bruxism affects soft tissues as well. The constant pressure loosens your teeth and degrades the periodontal ligaments between your gums and teeth. Over time, the gum tissues loosen and pull away from your teeth.
- Worn-down teeth: Teeth grinding wears down your enamel over time. This may cause misshapen teeth that mess up your bite. Furthermore, enamel degradation exposes the underneath, yellow-tinted dentine, making your smile look dingy.Â
- Tooth loss: Severely damaged, infected, or loose teeth may eventually need extraction when typical restorative treatments fail.Â
How is bruxism treated?
Dr. Liu prescribes a custom-fitted mouthguard as the first line of treatment for bruxism. The appliance sits over your teeth, stopping direct contact between the upper and lower teeth. This protects against the excessive wear, chipping, and fractures that can result from grinding.
A bruxism splint or nightguard distributes the pressure from grinding evenly across the appliance, reducing the strain on specific teeth and jaw joints (TMJs). This helps alleviate jaw tension and reduces the risk of developing or worsening temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Depending on the cause of your bruxism, our doctor may complement oral appliance therapy with orthodontics, lifestyle modifications, and other therapies. We’ll walk with you until you achieve a painless lifestyle.Â
Do you need teeth-grinding relief?
Teeth grinding can result in expensive restorative treatments, including dental bonding, root canals, and crowns. Sometimes, you may need extractions and teeth replacements like dental implants. Don’t let teeth grinding mess up your oral health and finances. Call (517) 777-8878 today to get treatment from Dr. Edward Liu Sedation and Implant Dentistry.