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Signs and Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

By: Linda Marie


Read More About Dental Care

Signs, Symptoms and Problems Caused by Grinding Your Teeth
Learn What Can Be Done to Reduce Grinding Your Teeth.

As you know, stress can lead to heart problems, high blood pressure, ulcers, and for some grinding or clenching of the teeth. In fact, it is now widely understood by many experts that stress is the major reason most people grind their teeth. The obvious problem is that people who grind, wear away their tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay and often need for crowns and veneers. Here are some of the symptoms that will let you know if you grind your teeth so you can solve the problem and hopefully avoid ruining your natural teeth and needing cosmetic surgery, braces or veneers.

Signs and Symptoms of Teeth Grinding:

- Teeth grinding or clenching loud enough to wake your sleep partner
- Teeth that are worn down, flattened or chipped
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing the inside of your tooth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
- Earache (because of violent jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear)
- Dull morning headache
- Chronic facial pain

Problems that May Cause Teeth Grinding:

- Anxiety, stress or tension
- Suppressed anger or frustration
- Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type

Results of Teeth Grinding:

Damage to your teeth. The enamel is worn down and your teeth become more exposed. Teeth grinding can also cause cracking of your teeth and other damage that will need to be addressed and possible fixed with crowns and veneers. It will more expensive to take care of these problems with crowns and veneers than it is to prevent them.

An altered bite. This is a problem that also affects the jaw and can cause pain.
TMJ disorders - Grinding teeth repeatedly can have a big effect on the TMJ and can result in complications to the joints. Severe headaches, loss of sleep, depression, and anxiety.

What You Can Do?

- Limit your alcohol, tobacco and caffeine intake
- Reduce your stress with meditation, exercise, breathing techniques, or other stress relief techniques
- Make sure to schedule regular dental exams
- Try using a night guard specially made by your dentist to fit your mouth

Unfortunately, this is not a definitive cure for teeth grinding. It’s best to try and reduce stress, anxiety and limit stimulants like caffeine and nicotine. Many of these problems build slowly over time and can be put off as they may seem unimportant. They may seem of little importance until you begin to feel the discomfort and or get your dentist's bill for treatments such as crowns and dental veneers. To learn more about preventing damage from teeth grinding, contact your dentist. If you want to learn more about advances in cosmetic dentistry contact your dentist or visit Lumineers.com.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Linda Marie is a retired dentist from Oregon. If you have questions are need more information regarding dental veneers, please visit Lumineers.com.

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