Grinding / Clenching

If you grind or clench your teeth, we can help ease discomfort and protect your smile from further damage.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism – also known as teeth grinding, is a dental condition that can wear down the enamel on your tooth, therefore causing tooth decay and discomfort. There are lots of reasons as to why you may be suffering from bruxism, and it’s usually linked to factors such as stress, anxiety and sleep problems. The main issue with bruxism is that many patients are completely unaware that they are doing and it’s only when they visit us for a standard check-up that we get to the bottom of these issues. Other causes of teeth grinding include:

Other causes of teeth grinding include:

  • Medicines – Specific antidepressants can sometimes cause teeth grinding. It’s important to ask your GP when being prescribed about all potential side-effects so that you can fully understand what may happen. Alternatively, read the notes that accompany the medicines to get a fuller understanding.
  • Sleep Disorders – If you suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, you are much more likely to grind your teeth while you’re asleep. Furthermore, you may also grind your teeth if you have sleep paralysis or have regular hallucinations.
  • Lifestyle Choices – How you live your life and every day factors can also contribute to ruxism. Heavy consumption of alcohol or using recreational drugs can increase chances of consistent teeth clenching and grinding

Treatments:

For younger children, treatment may not be necessary. Many outgrow bruxism without treatment, and many adults don’t grind their teeth badly enough to require professional treatment. However, if the problem is moderate to severe and it’s taking a toll on your dental health and wearing down enamel, we can offer a few different treatments including:

  • Splints & Mouth Guards – These are designed to keep teeth separated to avoid the damage caused by clenching and grinding. They can be constructed of hard acrylic or soft materials and fit over your upper or lower teeth
  • Dental Correction – In severe cases — when tooth wear has led to sensitivity or the inability to chew properly — your dentist may need to reshape the chewing surfaces of your teeth or use crowns to repair the damage.

FAQs

Can teeth grinding happen in children?
What are the risks of teeth whitening?
Will teeth whitening work on false teeth?