Why Is Teeth Grinding Harmful?

Many people grind their teeth at night occasionally, and it is not usually a problem or a cause for alarm. However, if you find that you wake up with tight or fatigued muscles in your jaw, neck, or face more often than not, you may have a condition called sleep bruxism, which can lead to serious problems if left untreated.

Teeth Grinding Harmful Effects

Grinding your teeth at night might not do much more than leave your jaw feeling a little sore in the morning, but if it is allowed to occur for many years it can wear the teeth down and require dental restorations like dental bridges and crowns to be placed. It can also cause TMJ or make it worse, and severe teeth grinding can even lead to tooth loss, which would require dental implants or dentures.

Teeth grinding has even been shown to change the appearance of the face, because the jaw muscles are being exercised and strengthened, which can cause the lower jaw to appear thicker. Simply put, unconsciously grinding your teeth night after night causes more harm than just keeping your family or roommates awake: it can lead to serious dental and overall health problems.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Teeth Grinding?

If you have been diagnosed with sleep bruxism or you are certain that you clench and/or grind your teeth frequently during the night, ask our team about our custom oral appliances. Wearing a nightguard can do wonders for bruxism, as they not only protect your teeth from grinding each other down, but they actually hold the jaw in a comfortable position that keeps the muscles relaxed, so they are not tensed and overworking themselves.

Contact Us for Teeth Grinding Relief

Oral appliance therapy can relieve the headaches, fatigue, and soreness that you deal with on a daily basis due to sleep bruxism. If you are interested in utilizing a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and sleep peacefully, please get in touch with our team and we will be happy to get a consultation scheduled for you.