Teeth grinding is a common dental condition that most of us experience at one point or another. In fact, you may not even be aware that you’re doing it. Also referred to as bruxism, teeth grinding is the act of moving the jaw while the teeth are held together. It is estimated that as many as 15 percent of children grind or clench their teeth. The numbers tend to decline with age, with only 3 percent of seniors still dealing with bruxism.
Grinding is often listed in the same category as clenching, though these are not one and the same. Unlike grinding, clenching does not require moving the jaw. Also, grinding of the teeth is something that typically occurs during sleep, whereas clenching is more common during the day when you’re awake. But grinding and clenching can be similarly detrimental to dental health and functionality.
There are a number of things that can cause unnatural grinding or clenching of the teeth. Stress and anxiety are two of the more common causes, but it can also be attributed to things like drug use, sleep apnea or even an improper bite (malocclusion).
If teeth grinding persists unchecked, it can have serious dental consequences. Here are seven common consequences of teeth grinding.
1. Flattened Teeth
The constant grinding or clenching of the teeth can result in unnatural wear and tear. The upper and lower teeth should glide together smoothly, touching only when you’re chewing food. Tooth on tooth contact can result in significant wear in a relatively short amount of time.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you visit your dentist twice a year for a checkup. If you keep to this regular maintenance schedule, your dentist should be able to identify unnatural wear and tear in the early stages before too much damage is done.
2. Micro-cracks & Broken Fillings
The average person experiences a loss of .3 millimeters of tooth enamel through natural wear and tear every 10 years. Comparatively, it’s not uncommon to see “bruxers” lose as much as 2 millimeters of enamel by their mid-twenties.
The rapid loss of tooth enamel — which strengthens and protects the teeth — leaves you open to issues such as chipping and cracking of the teeth. You may also face increased risk of broken fillings or otherwise damage tooth restorations (such as dental crowns). Untreated, this can eventually lead to nerve damage.
3. Tooth Sensitivity
The excessive wear and tear of the teeth caused by grinding can strip the enamel down to such an extent that it exposes dentin, an underlying major component of the tooth. Exposed dentin can cause extreme tooth sensitivity to heat and cold.
Regular checkups should help catch wear and tear caused by grinding before it progresses to such an extent that dentin is exposed.
4. Loose Teeth
The rocking effect caused by grinding of the teeth can be so extreme that it actually loosens teeth from the jaw bone. In addition to weakening the tooth itself, it can also cause a number of other problems, such as creating pockets along the gum line.
5. Gum Recession
Teeth grinding is a leading cause of gum recession for a number of reasons. In addition to damaging the soft tissue directly, grinding also loosens the teeth and creates pockets along the gum line. Bacteria can lodge in these pockets and lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Unchecked, this can result in recession which in turn can expose tooth roots and cause other dental problems.
Gum recession can be treated through skin grafts, but depending on the severity of the issue, this can be quite an expensive treatment.
6. Headache
Nighttime bruxing can last 40 minutes of every hour slept and produce up to 250 pounds of force per square inch (enough pressure to crack a walnut). In addition to all the other problems caused by grinding, this massive overuse of muscles can lead to pain and discomfort of the jaw, and headaches, including migraines.
7. TMJ
The physical stress that bruxing can put on the jaw can lead to something far more troublesome than occasional jaw pain or headaches. You can actually stress the joint to such an extent that it damages the temporomandibular jaw joint. This is referred to as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The associated pain can be intermittent or constant, affecting one or both sides of the jaw joint.The Academy of General Dentistry(AGD) estimates that roughly 65 to 85 percent of Americans will experience some type of TMD symptom in their life. If you grind your teeth, you can expect your chances to be at the high end of that range.
FAQs
What are the consequences of teeth grinding? ›
Chronic, involuntary teeth grinding – technically called bruxism – can lead to all sorts of health problems. You could crack or fracture your teeth, which may require crowns or dental implants. You could also wear down the enamel on your teeth, leading to periodontal disease or lost teeth.
What are the damages of habitual grinding of teeth? ›Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose. Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth. Increased tooth pain or sensitivity. Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won't open or close completely.
Which result is the possible effect in a patient who has a habit of grinding teeth frequently during sleep? ›Teeth may become painful, eroded, and mobile. Dental crowns, fillings, and implants can also become damaged. Teeth grinding can increase the risk of problems with the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull, known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
What happens if bruxism is not treated? ›If bruxism goes untreated, it may lead to jaw muscle and joint problems. These are known as TMJ problems or TMD (temporomandibular disorder). You could even lose your teeth.
What are the disadvantages of bruxism? ›There are many disadvantages of bruxism such as pain, headache, tooth fracturing, loosening, or loss of your pearly whites. Chronic clenching wears these dental structures down and even changes the appearance of your face.
What is the number one cause of teeth grinding? ›Teeth grinding (bruxism) is involuntary clenching, grinding and gnashing of the teeth that usually happens during sleep. Causes can include stress, concentration and use of illegal drugs. Treatments include bite splints (to be worn at night), repair of tooth damage, and stress management therapy.
Can you reverse damage from teeth grinding? ›You can not reverse damage from grinding, however we can repair the tooth or teeth using restorative dental services. Patients may also wear a mouthguard at night to protect their teeth from further damage.
Can teeth grinding damage nerves? ›Teeth grinding
Grinding not only damages the enamel of the tooth, but it can affect deeper levels of the tooth, including the tooth nerve. See a dentist so that they can recommend the best mouthguard to wear during sleep.
Bruxism is a problem in which you unconsciously grind or clench your teeth. You may clench and grind your teeth during the day. Or, at night while you sleep (sleep bruxism). You may not even realize you have it.
Which teeth are most affected by grinding? ›The distal corners of the maxillary central and lateral incisors are very common areas where damage from bruxism is noticed. Common canine wear facets are rounded over to the labial surface of the cusp tip, whereas normal mastication wear blends over to the lingual surface.
How does teeth grinding change your face? ›
Over time, chronic clenching of the jaw leads to hypertrophy of masseters and temporalis musculature causing the face to take on a masculine and square appearance. Patients commonly present to dermatology cosmetic practices wishing to have a more slim, softer appearing face.
What is the difference between clenching and bruxism? ›Grinding or bruxism involves moving the jaw with the teeth held together. This results in substantial visible wear and flattening of the teeth which is usually obvious both to dentist and patient. Clenching is simply holding the teeth together and tightening the jaw muscles.
How do dentists fix bruxism? ›Dental crowns are recommended for people who have severe teeth damage as a result of their bruxism. The crowns act as a cap to the tooth to protect the root of the tooth and to restore the smile. They will also prevent further damage to the teeth.
Is bruxism a medical or dental issue? ›Unequivocally, bruxism is both a medical and a dental issue. This affliction spans a wide array of possible variants, weaving in genetics, lifestyle, pharmaceutical usage, personality, vitamin deficiency, sleep cycles, and neurological threads.
At what age does bruxism stop? ›Most kids outgrow bruxism when they lose their baby teeth.
Does teeth grinding ever go away? ›Many kids outgrow bruxism without treatment, and many adults don't grind or clench their teeth badly enough to require therapy. However, if the problem is severe, options include certain dental approaches, therapies and medications to prevent more tooth damage and relieve jaw pain or discomfort.
Can teeth recover from grinding? ›So, can we restore your teeth from damage caused by bruxism? Luckily, in most cases, the answer is still yes. Although ideally patients should seek out their options to reduce clenching or grinding their teeth before getting dental treatment, it is still possible to restore your smile if bruxism is not that severe.
What age does teeth grinding stop? ›You may have heard your child doing it at night. Sometimes, children will grind their teeth during the day when they feel anxious. The good news is that most children will eventually stop grinding their teeth. This often happens around the time they lose their baby teeth.
What are the benefits of not grinding teeth? ›Prevents Headaches
Grinding and clenching your teeth also causes headaches and toothaches. Excessive grinding and clenching of your teeth can cause muscle fatigues, jaw aches, earaches, and neck pains. But having a night guard custom made to your mouth helps prevent these issues.