Teeth Clenching: Frequently Asked Questions

Bruxism is the technical term for grinding and clenching that abrades teeth and may cause facial pain. People who grind and clench, often called bruxers, unintentionally bite down too hard at inappropriate times, such as during sleep. Many people are unaware that they even have bruxism since it often occurs while they're sleeping. If you wake up with dull headaches or vise-like pain, you may be one of many people suffering from bruxism. Your dentist can usually detect the telltale signs of bruxism on your teeth.

Clenching your jaw excessively when you are stressed or during sleep is not normal and can damage teeth and lead to headaches, joint problems and tooth fractures.. Untreated, clenching and grinding your teeth can cause hypersensitivity to hot and cold, fractures and even loosen teeth. Early diagnosis and treatment can ward off pain before it starts and help you avoid the problems associated with this condition.

Next to uncontrolled gum disease it is the most destructive force going on in your mouth. It causes loss of the bone around your teeth that in turn causes receding gums (that’s right, receding gums do not come from tooth brushing). The loss of bone creates “pockets” around the teeth where germs can hide and cause more gum disease than you already have. Over time, the forces from clenching and grinding fatigues tooth structure and this causes weakened teeth. ...

Between one half of all adults over the age of 16 clench or grind their teeth, mostly at night, which can severely wear down or crack teeth and fillings, loosen teeth in the gums, and make the bone and gum support of the teeth shrink. Clenching and grinding is the number one cause of headaches, jaw joint soreness and popping, and painful jaws. By wearing a 1/8 inch thick custom-made strong plastic tooth appliance, a Night Guard, over the upper or lower teeth cuts these symptoms tremendously.

The high intensity contractions of these powerful muscles becomes painful and the forces generated cause pain to surrounding tissues, joints, and other muscles. . By reducing the intensity of the clenching, you're effectively minimizing the source of the pain - in many cases, in just a few days.

Headaches in the morning are definitely an indication of clenching and/or grinding your teeth. Clenching and/or grinding is linked to many causes, including: nutrition, medications, neurological problems or a poor fitting bite. A complete evaluation by a dentist who is experienced in occlusion and dento-facial orthopedics is critical to initiate a course of rehabilitation and alleviate the pain.

Grinding or clenching can occur when teeth, jaws, and muscles are in conflict, and it’s something we examine closely when assessing your overall oral health. Because a misaligned bite can lead to undue wear on your teeth, as well as headaches and other types of pain, it should be treated. If you suffer from jaw pain, migraines, or clicking in your jaw joints, please call us for you’re a neuromuscular dentistry consultation today.

Bruxism is a very common condition especially in highly stressful environments like New York City and other large cities. It is a defense mechanism response to stress, but it is not harmless. This behavior can end up grinding your teeth to unhealthy levels and/or chipping away the enamel of your teeth. This might consequently promote heightened sensitivity and loss of important tooth structure. We fabricate custom-made mouth guards to protect your teeth. We recommend them to be worn while you sleep. ...

Some people refer to joint pain as TMJ. First we will need to make you a plastic mouth appliance, sometimes called a night guard, we call it a deprogramer, that’s worn to absorb the force of biting. This appliance will help prevent further damage to your teeth and relax your muscles. We may also need to make you a repositioning splint designed to direct the teeth into a better bite pattern, also called a reprogramer. This will help alleviate the pain and prevent breaking your teeth.