Protect Your Smile

We can help you identify and take steps to solve teeth grinding and preventing over-worn teeth and jaw pain.

Teeth Grinding

Normal chewing results in brief intervals of contact between teeth.

Under normal circumstances, your teeth should only be in contact for about 5 minutes each day. Slight amounts of wear as you age is common.

Sometimes teeth develop a flattened, worn appearance. X-rays may show unusually thin layers of enamel as if sandpaper has been drawn across the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Daily chewing shouldn't erode the enamel significantly.

Some patients develop a subconscious habit of grinding their teeth, either during the day or at night.

In many cases, the grinding only occurs during sleep and for only a few seconds at a time. If you wake up with a sore jaw or a morning headache, chances are you are grinding your teeth during the night. In some patients, enlarged jaw muscles develop on the sides of the face from this nighttime grinding. These muscles are the strongest in the body for their size, which means they can do a lot of harmful damage.

Teeth grinding not only wears down teeth and strains the overworked muscles, but can also damage the complex jaw joints. Damage to the joints may lead to arthritic changes, chronic pain, and popping or clicking. Once these changes settle in, reversing their condition may become impossible.

Avoiding Irreversible Damage

If you're waking up with a sore jaw or headaches, or you've noticed chips or flattening of your teeth, a consult with us is recommended. The sooner the problem receives attention, the less damage there will be. Often a custom-fit night guard will eliminate the symptoms and protect your precious enamel.

Daytime habits of clenching or grinding deserve attention too. The dentist will analyze your bite and make sure they're moving against each other properly when you chew. Regardless of the cause, reducing the strain on the jaw and your teeth as quickly as possible can save you money and time spent in the dental chair.

Steps to Identifying and Taking Action

Recognize.

Examine.

Treatment.

The sooner the problem receives attention, the less damage there will be. Often a custom-fit night guard will eliminate the symptoms and protect your precious enamel. Regardless of the cause, reducing the strain on the jaw and your teeth as quickly as possible can save you money and time spent in the dental chair.