Are you suffering from teeth grinding? It is also known as bruxism and damages your teeth over time. It weakens the enamel, an outer layer that protects your teeth. There is a big difference in teeth before and after grinding. They are smooth and strong before the grinding, and after grinding, your teeth become flat and sometimes even chipped or cracked.
If you face bruxism for a long time, it can lead to tooth sensitivity, pain, and other dental issues. It's common to grind your teeth during sleep or mostly in stressful situations, and it causes damage to your teeth. Here, you can learn which changes occur before and after grinding and which precautions are adopted to prevent teeth damage and maintain healthy teeth.
What is Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding basically happens when you clench or grind teeth together, mostly when you are sleeping. It can damage your teeth and cause a lot of pain in your jaw or head. Here are some causes of bruxism:
Causes of Teeth Grinding
- Stress and Anxiety: If you have circumstances that cause stress and anxiety, it can lead to teeth grinding.
- Sleep Disorders: Sleep apnea or other sleep disturbances can disrupt sleep and lead to teeth grinding.
- Medications: Certain medications can cause teeth grinding as a side effect.
- Malocclusion: Misaligned teeth can contribute to teeth grinding.
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
- Aching jaw: A sore or tired jaw is a common symptom of teeth grinding.
- Headaches: Teeth grinding can lead to headaches due to the tension in the jaw muscles.
- Facial pain: Pain in the face or ears can also be a sign of teeth grinding.
- Tooth sensitivity: Worn-down teeth can become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
- Difficulty opening your mouth: In severe cases, teeth grinding can make it difficult to open your mouth wide.
Impact of Teeth Grinding on Teeth
Wear and Tear on Enamel
The most noticeable effect caused by teeth grinding is that it damages your tooth enamel. Enamel is a hard outer layer of your teeth that protects the teeth’s underlying dentin. When you grind the teeth, the friction can cause enamel damage to the outer layer.
Which can lead to:
- Thinning of the teeth: As your enamel gets damaged, teeth can become thinner and weaker.
- Sensitivity: Thinned enamel exposes the sensitive dentin layer, making your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
- Cracks and chips: The weakened enamel can make your teeth more prone to cracks and chips.
- Increased risk of cavities: When the enamel gets damaged and worn away, your teeth cavities are more exposed.
Jaw Pain and Tension
The main causes of teeth grinding are pain in the jaw and stress. If you grind your teeth, the muscles in your jaw work overtime, which makes them sore and fatigued.
This can lead to:
- Aching jaw: A sore or tired jaw is a common symptom of teeth grinding.
- Headaches: Teeth grinding can lead to headaches due to the tension in the jaw muscles.
- Facial pain: Pain in the face or ears can also be a sign of teeth grinding.
Sleep Disruption
Teeth grinding disturbs your sleep schedule. Noise made from your teeth due to teeth grinding affects you and your sleep partner. Which can cause:
- Fatigue: Lack of sleep can make you feel tired and irritable during the day.
- Difficulty concentrating: Sleep deprivation can affect your ability to focus and concentrate.
- Mood disorders: Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Seeing the Changes: Teeth Before and After Grinding
The severity of teeth grinding can be different for everyone, and the effects of before and after teeth grinding may be more or less noticeable based on several factors, including:
- Frequency and duration of grinding
- Intensity of grinding
- Individual tooth structure
Here's a visual comparison of teeth before and after teeth grinding at different levels of severity:
Mild Teeth Grinding
If you have mild teeth grinding, the effects are not too great. But overtime, you can notice wear on the edges of your teeth, which makes them flattened and round. If you ignore it by thinking it's mild, you can face big problems in the future.
Moderate Teeth Grinding
When the teeth grinding becomes on a moderate level, the damage to your teeth increases and is noticeable. You can notice more flattening of the cusps, and cracks sometimes occur on them.
Severe Teeth Grinding
Severe teeth grinding causes a lot of damage to your teeth in a short time. The enamel is worn away till the dentin is exposed. With the effects of severe teeth grinding, your teeth become more sensitive and shorter with time.
FAQs
How can I tell if I'm grinding my teeth?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be grinding your teeth:
- Aching jaw
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Difficulty opening your mouth
Can teeth grinding affect my overall health?
Grinding teeth can cause various dental issues, such as sleep, fatigue, and even anxiety.
Can children grind their teeth?
Of course, children and adults can both face teeth grinding. If you notice that your child is grinding their teeth, quickly contact your dentist for treatment.