bruxism Archives - Pur Dental Center

Do you feel discomfort or even pain in your teeth when eating or drinking? Tooth sensitivity can be incredibly frustrating, so you might be wondering about some of the condition’s common culprits. While tooth decay is a typical cause, here are some other factors you need to consider:

Brushing Too Hard

Brushing aggressively or with a hard-bristle brush can scratch away at your teeth, eroding your enamel and causing gum recession. When this happens, tooth sensitivity becomes much more common.

Solution: opt for a soft-bristle brush instead.

Bruxism

Grinding and clenching can wear down your upper and lower teeth, wearing out your enamel and exposing your teeth to increased sensitivity.

Solution: visit your dentist to find a suitable treatment, such as the use of a night guard.

Broken Tooth

A chip in your tooth reduces nerve protection; in fact, even just a small crack on the enamel can cause sensitivity.

Solution: if you have a cracked tooth, don’t delay in visiting the dentist. Leaving your tooth unfixed can not only lead to sensitivity, but also cause a host of other oral health issues.

Fillings

While cavities cause sensitivity, so too can the fillings that treat them. Fillings can cause mild aggravation to nerve endings deep inside the tooth, an issue that typically resolves itself as the nerve heals.

Solution: sensitivity after a tooth filling is normal and temporary. If discomfort and pain persist with little to no improvement, contact your dentist.

Whitening

Teeth whitening treatments are known to cause temporary sensitivity, which is a completely normal experience that typically disappears on its own.

Solution: as is the case with fillings, sensitivity after a whitening treatment is normal and temporary. If discomfort and pain persist with little to no improvement, contact your dentist.

While some sensitivity-causing factors can be mitigated by adjusting your oral habits, others require professional care. Are you worried that your tooth sensitivity is a sign of a larger issue? Don’t hesitate to visit the dental clinic!

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What is bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition characterized by excessive teeth grinding or clenching. If left unchecked, bruxism can eventually erode tooth enamel, leading to sensitive teeth, chipped teeth, disrupted sleep, chronic jaw pain (TMJ), and more. Stress and anxiety are two big contributors to bruxism, with other potential factors including a misaligned bite or sleep apnea. It’s important to pinpoint and understand the underlying cause of a particular case of bruxism in order to properly treat the issue.

Because people who grind or clench their teeth often do so while sleeping, it’s common for them to be unaware that they’re doing it at all. In many cases, those who suffer from bruxism may experience frequent headaches and jaw pain without understanding the source of their discomfort. Awareness is the first step toward mitigating bruxism, and your dentist will typically notice signs of excess grinding or clenching during a checkup.

How do I stop grinding my teeth?

A typical treatment for patients suffering from bruxism is a custom nightguard, which keeps the teeth separated while sleeping so as to avoid further enamel damage. Though nightguards can certainly help to protect teeth, lighten tension, and alleviate discomfort, there are often underlying conditions that must be addressed.

For instance, if it is determined that a sleep disorder might be at the root of a case of bruxism, undergoing a sleep study would be a vital initial step. Teeth grinding can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when throat muscles intermittently relax and interrupt breathing during sleep. Those who suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea may require a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), which keeps airway passages open while sleeping.

For patients suffering from stress and anxiety, adopting relaxation techniques or visiting a mental health professional may provide significant relief. Physical therapy, self-massages, and muscle relaxants may also be recommended, particularly when patients suffer from facial pain or stiffness.

If you are experiencing signs of bruxism, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

bruxism

Tooth Tips | Dealing With Sensitivity