The act of grinding teeth is often associated with stress, anger, frustration and anxiety, and individuals who don’t regularly grind or clench their teeth as a physical manifestation of those emotions may not believe their teeth and overall health are at risk. However, did you know that most teeth grinding occurs unconsciously or during sleep, and that it is often caused by preexisting dental conditions such as crooked or missing teeth? Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding, and when left untreated it can pose a serious risk to your overall oral health. Teeth grinding during sleep, also known as sleep bruxism, can also be caused by other factors that aren’t specifically related to your oral health at all, including snoring, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
You may be wondering how you can tell if you’re suffering from bruxism or sleep bruxism if you aren’t aware that you’re grinding your teeth. Although you may be grinding or clenching your teeth either unconsciously or in your sleep, you may be experiencing side-effects during waking hours, such as a dull headache, an ache that feels as though it’s originating from your jaw or actual soreness in your jaw. Someone in close proximity to you may even hear you grinding your teeth while asleep! While the immediate symptoms, side-effects and aural annoyances to sleep partners may be minor, the long-term effects of bruxism are not – if left untreated, bruxism can lead to the loosening and fracturing of teeth, and in some cases even tooth loss and other extreme forms of damage to the teeth and jaw.
As with most medical conditions, waiting until it’s “too late” to address bruxism can require corrective action that is expensive and intrusive. Correcting the damage caused by bruxism can require everything from bridges and crowns to partial or even complete dentures, but proactively treating the condition can be as simple as using a mouth guard and addressing the underlying cause of any stress, anger, frustration and anxiety.
For over 30 years, Dr. Lee Weisbard, D.D.S., and her team have provided Colorado and beyond with the highest quality dental experience available. And it all grew out of her compassion for others and a love for the dental arts.
She has the skills and committed excellence in cosmetic, general, and dental implant dentistry that brings you the best dental care in Greenwood Village, DTC, Englewood, Cherry Hills, Littleton, and the surrounding cities of Denver. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious 2018 Colorado Businesswoman of the Year award.