Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is a condition that can damage both teeth and gums. You should never ignore bruxism—at Laguna Pavilion Dental, we offer treatment for teeth grinding to help protect your oral health.

Grinding or clenching your teeth puts immense pressure on your teeth and gums that can lead to a myriad of oral health issues. Many people who grind their teeth aren’t aware that they have this harmful habit. They may grind their teeth while asleep or even while awake and not be aware of it.

What Are Symptoms of Teeth Grinding?

Not everyone who grinds or clenches their teeth will have symptoms. However, Dr. Sattout can examine your teeth during your appointment with us at Laguna Pavilion Dental and can tell whether or not you grind your teeth based on your tooth enamel wear or even tiny cracks–called craze lines–in your teeth.

People who grind their teeth will typically show unusual tooth enamel wear on the surfaces of the teeth and may even have broken or chipped teeth. For others, bruxism will cause such symptoms as:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms including jaw or face pain, headaches, and even ear discomfort
• Sensitive or sore teeth
• Loose teeth
• Sleep problems
• Gum recession

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to get an exam to determine if you could be grinding your teeth.

Problems Bruxism Can Cause

Ignoring bruxism can lead to long-term consequences for your smile. If left untreated, teeth grinding can eventually lead to fractured and loose teeth, and can even cause tooth loss in some people.

Teeth grinding can also cause gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity, and temporomandibular joint problems. It’s estimated that people who grind their teeth put as much as 10 times the force exerted while chewing food on their teeth, which can have major consequences for both teeth and gums.

How to Stop Teeth Grinding

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for teeth grinding. Treatment for your bruxism will all depend on what’s causing your clenching or grinding habit. Bruxism can have many causes, including:

• Certain types of medications
• Stress and anxiety
• Alcohol consumption
• Caffeine
• Tobacco use
• Recreational drug use

Bruxism has even been linked to other types of disorders including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, epilepsy, and sleep disorders including sleep apnea. For others still, bruxism could be influenced by misaligned teeth or an improper bite.

For many people, getting their teeth grinding under control begins with identifying potential underlying causes of the disorder. Dr. Sattout works closely with you to identify what could be causing your bruxism as well as put a customized treatment plan into place. Preventing further damage to your teeth from bruxism is important, so you’ll likely need a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and gums while you address your teeth grinding causes.

Work With Us at Laguna Pavilion Dental

If you’re experiencing symptoms of teeth grinding, it’s important not to wait to get your symptoms addressed. Call us at Laguna Pavilion Dental today at (916) 520-4270 to schedule an appointment for help with bruxism!