Grind­ing Your Teeth at Night? How It’s Affect­ing Your Smile and What You Can Do

You might be wondering if you really need to get help with this condition, or if it’s just a fact of life that you need to adjust to. Not only will bruxism impact your sleep quality and cause you pain throughout the day, it will also impact your oral health. In the long term, it could lead to widespread dental problems that could be very expensive to fix. This is why we recommend tackling the issue head on as soon as you become aware that it is a problem.

How is bruxism diagnosed?

Confirming you have bruxism is often difficult, particularly if you haven’t been to the dentist for a while. Since bruxism happens when you sleep, you might not be aware of your nocturnal gnashing. Unless a partner notices the sound of your teeth grinding together, or the clicking of your jaw, you could spend a long time in the dark about your dental problem.

If you have jaw pain or if your teeth ache in the morning, it’s worth booking an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist will be able to see from the chewing surface of your teeth if you are grinding your teeth at night.

How does bruxism impact your smile?

There are a number of ways that bruxism can impact your smile. First and foremost, it causes premature and excessive wear and tear on your teeth. This impacts the chewing surface in particular. You might suffer from small chips and cracks, and restorations like crowns, fillings and bridges are more likely to come loose. The jaw is able to exert considerable force, and your teeth can only withstand so much.

There are other ways that your teeth might be impacted. It could impact the alignment of your teeth by applying pressure, much in the same way that orthodontic treatment would. This can push your teeth out of alignment, which can be frustrating if you have completed orthodontic treatment.

If you’re still in the middle of orthodontic treatment, bruxism could also cause damage to your dental apparatus. Invisalign aligners and other clear aligners will be worn and damaged by the biting, while fixed braces could come loose from the teeth. This will delay your treatment and could make it more expensive.

You’re more likely to suffer from cracks on the chewing surface, which will be very visible, but there is a hidden danger with bruxism. You could suffer from fractures to the roots of your teeth, which could allow bacteria into the tooth. This could lead to an abscess further down the line, and this will require treatment like a root canal or extraction.

What is the best treatment for bruxism?

Bruxism isn’t a condition itself, but rather a secondary condition caused by something else. It could be the result of stress or anxiety, or it might be part of another sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. It’s important to get to the bottom of the issue to be able to stop bruxism.

Stress and anxiety won’t be cured overnight, so we can intervene in the meantime. The most common way your dentist can help with bruxism is to create a custom mouth guard you can wear at night.

This apparatus will provide cushioning between your teeth that will prevent them from grinding together. It also absorbs some of the pressure of your bite. It could also help to align your jaw so that you stop grinding your teeth.

Another popular method for addressing bruxism is to use Botox (yes, the anti-wrinkle injection) to help relax the masseter muscles and reduce activity in the jaw. This can help to provide some relief while you tackle the root cause of your bruxism.

Once your teeth are protected, you then need to get to the heart of the issue and tackle it. This could mean adding more stress-busting exercise into your daily routine, or incorporating some mindfulness activities like meditation to help you to reframe your anxiety.

What happens if I do nothing?

Doing nothing is not advisable. Once you know you have an issue with bruxism, it’s a good idea to address this head on. Without intervention, you run the risk of damaging your teeth, which could lead to tooth loss further down the line.

Not to mention, bruxism is a sign that you are dealing with something much bigger, such as stress or anxiety. While you might not be able to eliminate this entirely, you can change the way you react to stress so that it doesn’t cause you any issues. By addressing your stress and anxiety problems, you’ll be able to live a much more relaxed life.

How can we help?

Worried you might be grinding your teeth at night? Get in touch with our team to book an appointment with a dentist. We can assess your teeth and let you know if you might be damaging your teeth while you sleep. We’ll then help you to choose the right treatment plan for your needs.