Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentistry 90210 : 310-276-2009

Stop Grinding Your Teeth & Get a Great Nights Sleep

Grinding teeth, otherwise known as Bruxism, is a common problem amongst many. Occasional grinding of teeth or clenching of teeth is harmless but when done on regular basis problems can develop.

The a singular main cause for grinding of teeth still remains unknown but some things known to factor into teeth grinding are anxiety and stress. A larger cause to teeth grinding is a abnormal bite (malocclusion), crooked teeth, or missing teeth. One study showed that abnormal sleep problems factor into bruxes considering the majority of teeth grinders grind or clench their teeth in their sleep. Sleep disorders can include sleep apnea, snoring, sleep talk, and difficulty transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next resulting in mini hallucination during transitions. Individuals that have a high intake of alcohol, caffeine, or are heavy smokers are affected by Bruxism higher then their counterparts who do not have similar lifestyle behaviors.

At one time or another, pretty much everyone has grinded their teeth, however when it becomes excessive and problems begin to occur is when an individual should seek out medical advise from our expert Beverly Hills dentist. Common signs of excessive teeth grinding are:

• Disturbed sleep
• Tension headache in morning
• Sore jaw
• Premature wear on teeth
• Loose teeth
• Teeth begin to chip or break easily
• Teeth become ultra sensitive to cold, hot or touch
• Receding gums
• Inflammation of jaw or temporomandibular joint
• Jaw tenderness to touch

If you have been told that you grind your teeth in your sleep or have experienced any of the other common signs you should call our reputable dentist and receive expert advice immediately. Excessive grinding of teeth can lead to loss of teeth or the teeth being worn down to the point where there is constant nerve pain. Other complications that arise from excessive teeth grinding is hearing loss, development of TMD/TMJ or worsen of, facial appearance altered do to the enlarged masseter muscle that develops from excessive Bruxism giving a squared jaw effect.

Treatment of teeth grinding varies on the underlying problem. For stress and anxiety, related teeth grinding it may be as simple as a routine of relaxation techniques prior to bed time. Self-talk has also been effective in simply reminding oneself at bedtime they are not going to grind their teeth. Giving up alcohol, caffeine, and/ or smoking lessens if not elevates teeth grinding as well. By having particular bite problems eliminated by your dentist is also very effective. The most widely used treatment for teeth grinding is the use of a mouth guard. There are other options available yet that can be discussed with our dentist at the time of your appointment for extreme cases of Bruxism. Do not allow teeth grinding to get the best of your teeth when help is just a phone call away here in Beverly Hills.

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