5 Signs That You May Be Grinding Your Teeth at Night

Updated on November 15, 2021

If you see any of these symptoms, contact your dentist straight away for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Chronic tooth grinding, if left untreated, can lead to: Teeth fracture, loosen, or fall out. 

Teeth can be worn down to stumps as a result of constant grinding. Grinding your teeth can damage your teeth and lead to tooth loss, but it can also impact your jaws. Wearing a custom teeth grinding night guard is one approach to protect your teeth from the detrimental effects of grinding.

How to know about your teeth grinding while sleeping?

Have you ever awoken with a headache, a painful jaw, or tooth pain? These are common sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) symptoms. Sleep bruxism affects 10-15% of adults, according to the American Dental Association, and it can even affect children. It’s tough to manage or stop since it happens when you’re sleeping. The following are the most prevalent indicators of tooth grinding:

  • Your partner observed about your grinding issue

The most typical method patients learn they grind their teeth is through someone who observes it, generally a spouse. The sound of teeth grinding may be heard, and the movement of the jaw can be observed. Remember that children might suffer from bruxism when sleeping, and parents should be aware of this. 

Wear and tear, especially on the molars and premolars, is the most prevalent symptom of teeth grinding. Many people learn about the condition for the first time when a dentist discusses the harm during a normal visit.

If your dentist notices wear and tear on your teeth as a result of grinding, don’t wait to address the issue. If you leave teeth grinding untreated for months or even years, your teeth might degrade faster than you believe. A personalised mouth guard that is comfortable enough to sleep in may be made in only one or two visits to the dentist.

  • Tooth sensitivity has increased.

Teeth grinding can wear down the enamel of your teeth, making them sensitive to heat and cold. This can be noticed while brushing your teeth. It is always advisable that you must visit your dentist on a regular basis so that a proper check can be kept whether there is any sensitivity in the tooth or not.  Because grinding your teeth gradually wears away the outer layers of enamel and dentin, the nerves of the teeth that are most damaged finally reach the tooth’s surface. This causes rapid or gradual changes in tooth sensitivity, particularly in the rear teeth, which wear down the most quickly due to grinding.

Newly sensitive teeth may react to hot or cold drinks and foods, or both. You may discover that sensitivity toothpastes are no longer effective. Tooth sensitivity is seldom reduced as a result of grinding, and it might appear and disappear without notice.

  • Tight jaw muscles or jaw ache.

Teeth grinding can cause your jaw muscles to become irritated and inflamed as a result of the tension and pressure. Your jaw may pain and feel stiff in the morning. You may also notice that your teeth or face hurt, that it’s difficult to open your mouth or eat, or that you hear clicking or popping when you talk or chew.

  • Teeth that are flat, loose, or chipped.

You may have observed excessive wear in your teeth when gazing in the mirror: flattened molars, fissures in your teeth, worn-down front teeth, or inexplicable chipped teeth. With the human jaw exerting an average of 171 pounds of pressure on the molars, it’s not unexpected that the jaw joint might become uncomfortable and sensitive after a night of grinding. Grinding your teeth at night is frequently indicated by persistent popping feelings and sounds. Your jaw may develop persistent discomfort and reduced range of motion if you don’t use a sleep guard.

  • Headaches on a regular basis.

Teeth grinding can induce headaches on a regular basis. Usually, they start near the jaw or around the temples. They might be gentle or abrasive.

Understanding what are night guards?

Night guards come in hard, medium, and soft forms, with the soft ones looking like sports mouthguards and the hard ones looking like transparent plastic retainers, but they’re considerably more durable and you normally only need one for your top teeth. 

Wearing a night guard creates a cushion between the upper and lower teeth, preventing them from wearing away at each other. It will protect your teeth from outward damage caused by grinding, such as chipping and erosion, but other symptoms such as jaw discomfort may not alter as long as the grinding continues.

Where can you buy night guards from?

You can acquire an over-the-counter night guard or a tailored night guard from your dentist. A normal over-the-counter night guard is shaped to your teeth by boiling it, letting it cool for a few moments, and then gently biting into it. The increased comfort and quality of a night guard obtained from your dentist is definitely worth it. 

These night guards are created in a laboratory from a dental professional’s imprint of your teeth. Professionally constructed night guards are more likely to fit snugly, endure longer, and be less bulky, increasing the probability that you will use it every night.

Conclusion

Night guards come in hard, medium, and soft forms, with the soft ones looking like sports mouthguards and the hard ones looking like transparent plastic retainers, but they’re considerably more durable and you normally only need one for your top teeth. Wearing a night guard creates a cushion between the upper and lower teeth, preventing them from wearing away at each other. It will protect your teeth from outward damage caused by grinding, such as chipping and erosion, but other symptoms such as jaw discomfort may not alter as long as the grinding continues.

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