Things You Can Thank Your Teeth-Grinding Habit For

Grinding your teeth every day isn’t something that everyone experiences, and when it occurs, it’s often a sign of a much more serious underlying oral health concern. Also known as bruxism, habitual teeth-grinding can be caused by one or several other factors, and when it isn’t addressed promptly, it can also cause several subsequent conditions with your teeth and oral health. Today, we take a look at a few of the things you may be able to attribute to your teeth-grinding habit, and why it’s important to treat it as soon as possible to avoid them.

The increased sensitivity in your teeth

For many people who grind their teeth too much, one of the first signs of it is an increased feeling of sensitivity in their teeth. When healthy, your teeth are incredibly strong and resilient and can withstand an immense amount bite pressure. However, bruxism puts your teeth through much more than they’re meant to withstand, and as they grind against each other forcefully, they’ll start to become more sensitive and painful. The sensation will grow more intense the longer you grind your teeth. However, by the time its severe enough to become a problem, you may have already experienced significant wear on one or more teeth.

The fact that your teeth are wearing down

Your teeth wearing down is never a good sign, and its one of the most frequent signs of more serious teeth-grinding. Healthy teeth are covered and protected by a strong, highly mineralized layer of enamel. When this layer wears down, your teeth can grow more sensitive, but also, it will expose the main structures of your teeth to the pressure and friction of grinding. This can lead to the chewing surfaces of your teeth starting to noticeably wear down and change, which can impact the health and integrity of your teeth as well as the balance of your bite, and much more.

The growing misalignment in your teeth

The force of grinding your teeth together forcefully and habitually can wear down and damage your teeth before you know it, but that it isn’t the only threat. The more your teeth are forced against each other, the more the force can impact their positions and alignment along your dental ridge. Growing tooth misalignment can lead to a variety of additional dental health concerns, including throwing your bite off balance and exacerbating your bruxism habit.

Learn how to break your teeth-grinding habit

Habitually grinding your teeth, especially if you have bruxism, can lead to several other conditions that you may need treatment to address, as well. To learn more, call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234. We also serve the residents of Kingwood, Conroe, Livingston, and all surrounding communities.