The Dangers of Tooth Grinding

One dental problem that people are aware of but maybe don’t take as seriously as they should is teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth can lead to many different dental problems, some of which you may not have expected. At our Palm Springs dental implants center, we have helped patients deal with many different concerns when it comes to their dental health, and teeth grinding is just one such issue.

First of all, one of the major dangers of tooth grinding is that grinding your teeth can cause major damage to your teeth. While it may seem minor, repeated stress on your teeth for a prolonged amount of time can lead to chipping, cracking, and a slow erosion of existing tooth structure.

Another issue with teeth grinding is that the regular exertion of stress can cause some level of jaw pain and jaw problems. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complicated joints in the human body, and it is in a juncture point that performs a number of different actions and has varied motion. Persistent tooth grinding can result in a TMJ disorder, which usually means locking, clicking, and popping of the jaw.

Since the grinding involves joints, muscles, and teeth, you can often expect some level of pain or discomfort if you grind your teeth. This means headaches, jaw pain, and tooth pain.

There are many different methods for dealing with tooth grinding that we can discuss in greater detail at our office. For the damage to the teeth caused by grinding, there is Palm Springs porcelain veneers and dental crowns. To help ease the stress on your teeth, you may be fitted for a mouth guard. Other advanced therapies are available as well.

If you are interested in remedies for tooth grinding as well as other options for maintaining optimal dental health, contact our implant dentistry office serving Palm Springs and other communities to learn more about your options for dental care.