Do you clench your jaws during the day? Or do you wake up with a painful jaw, headache, or sore jaw? Chances are you grind your teeth. In most cases, teeth grinding (bruxism) occurs due to stress and anxiety. If left untreated, bruxism can wreak havoc in your mouth. Here are the consequences that can result from teeth grinding.
Jaw Disorders
Grinding too much can cause jaw pain. A painful jaw can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder. This condition can affect your daily activities since opening and closing the mouth might be challenging. You may also experience pain around and in the ears.
Receding Gums
Teeth grinding can also affect the health of your gums. When you grind more often, you can damage the bone supporting the teeth, making the teeth loosen. Loose teeth can create gaps around the gum line. This creates room for bacteria to build up, which can lead to gum disease. If left unattended, gum diseases can result in gum recession.
Tooth Damage
Teeth grinding can wear away the enamel, a protective outer layer of the tooth. When the enamel erodes, the tooth becomes weak, increasing the risk of tooth decay. Over time, this condition can lead to tooth discoloration, abscesses, and tooth loss.
Besides, teeth grinding can cause friction on the teeth, causing chips or cracks. Broken teeth can impact your smile and also cause infection.
Can Teeth Grinding Go Away On Its Own?
Teeth grinding can resolve on its own. However, this may depend on the underlying conditions. For instance, some causes of teeth grinding may involve stress, anxiety, missing teeth, and misaligned teeth. Since these dental issues cannot get better unless treated, it is less likely for bruxism to resolve on its own. In this case, seeking professional help to address teeth grinding is vital. Our dentist will treat bruxism (teeth grinding) based on the underlying cause.
Dental Blog | Neu Family Dental | East Dundee, IL Neu Family Dental, 573 Dundee Avenue, East Dundee, IL 60118 + (847) 230-9143 + neufamilydental.com + 10/8/2024 + Page Keywords: Dentist East Dundee IL +
Do you clench your jaws during the day? Or do you wake up with a painful jaw, headache, or sore jaw? Chances are you grind your teeth. In most cases, teeth grinding (bruxism) occurs due to stress and anxiety. If left untreated, bruxism can wreak havoc in your mouth. Here are the consequences that can result from teeth grinding.