My Blog
Posts for tag: grinding
If your teeth have a worn appearance, it's possible you have a habit you're not even aware of: clenching or grinding your teeth. Also called “bruxism,” this destructive action causes your top and bottom teeth to come together or scrape past each other with a force that's many times what is normal for biting and chewing.
So what's normal? This can be expressed in terms of pounds. An adult usually exerts a force of 13-23 pounds to bite or chew food. But we have the potential to generate as much as 230 pounds of force, or 10 times what's normal. A “parafunctional” force of this magnitude applied repeatedly is bound to stress your teeth and other areas of your oral system. Besides wearing away the enamel of your teeth — and maybe even some of the softer dentin layer underneath — you may experience muscle spasms or pain in your jaw joints. Serious cases of wear can lead to “bite collapse” in which your face actually changes shape as your cheeks and lips lose support. This can make you look prematurely aged.
What can be done? To prevent further wear, we can fabricate for you a thin, plastic mouthguard that will protect your teeth at night or during times of intense stress. We can also recommend ways to temporarily relieve the discomfort that your grinding/clenching habits can cause. Heat and/or anti-inflammatory medication, for example, can be helpful.
If your tooth wear is minor (raggedness along the biting edge of a tooth or teeth) you may not need any restorative work. However, if tooth wear has already caused changes to your teeth and bite that you find aesthetically or functionally unacceptable, we can restore lost tooth structure in a variety of ways. Veneers and crowns are two examples.
If you have any questions about tooth wear or grinding habits, please contact us today to schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “How And Why Teeth Wear.”
Our Office
Gina Piccioni, D.M.D. and John G. Hartmann, D.D.S.
River Forest, IL Dentist
River Forest Dental StudioOur Blog
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
Tags
- wisdom teeth (4)
- cosmetic dentistry (36)
- smile makeover (11)
- pediatric dentistry (10)
- thumb sucking (3)
- sinus surgery (1)
- dental implants (19)
- teeth whitening (10)
- veneers (19)
- oral health (51)
- root canal (6)
- baby teeth (2)
- crowns (5)
- oral hygiene (27)
- bad breath (5)
- common symptoms (8)
- tooth decay (18)
- sports dentistry (4)
- mouthguards (9)
- dental injuries (6)
- brushing (1)
- missing tooth (3)
- replacing teeth (3)
- dental implant (4)
- oral sedation (1)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- dental anxiety (3)
- snoring and sleep apnea (1)
- bonding (2)
- chipped tooth (4)
- tooth colored fillings (2)
- fillings (3)
- tmd (3)
- tmj (3)
- chewing gum (2)
- xylitol (1)
- celebrity smiles (51)
- nightguard (1)
- grinding teeth (1)
- sealants (1)
- sensitive teeth (2)
- dentures (7)
- periodontal (gum) disease (2)
- dental injury (5)
- dental emergency (2)
- sleep apnea (2)
- snoring (2)
- prepless veneers (1)
- tooth loss (1)
- bone grafting (4)
- tongue scraper (1)
- dental health tips (1)
- dental emergencies (4)
- dental hygienist (1)
- dental hygiene (3)
- periodontal disease (4)
- gum disease (10)
- diabetic (1)
- oral cancer (1)
- heart disease (2)
- tooth decay quiz (1)
- cambra (1)
- fun dental facts (1)
- nutrition (5)
- sugar (1)
- power bleaching (1)
- pediatric care (2)
- pregnancy (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- grinding (1)
- loose dentures (2)
- overdenture (2)
- crown (1)
- teeth grinding (2)
- cracked tooth syndrome (1)
- tooth sensitivity (1)
- invisalign (1)
- clear aligners (3)
- orthodontics (3)
- braces (9)
- orthodontic treatment (13)
- dental specialists (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- partial dentures (1)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (1)
- Dental Implant Restoration (1)
- First Dental Visit (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (2)
- x-rays (1)
- retainers (1)
- Whiter (1)
- tooth extraction (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- mouth sores (2)
- dental bonding (2)
- reshaping (1)
- contouring (1)
- gummy smile (2)
- tmj disorders (1)
- root canal treatment (4)
- laser dentistry (1)
- bacteria (1)
- fluoride (1)
- flossing (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- toothpaste (1)
- dental crowns (2)
- restorative dentistry (1)
- tooth contouring (1)
- tooth reshaping (1)
- diabetes (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- tooth pain (2)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- cancer treatment (1)
- toothbrush (1)
- extractions (2)
- retainer (1)
- loose tooth (2)
- Removable Dentures (1)
- Missing Teeth (1)
- shingles (1)
- Emergency Dentist (1)
- gum surgery (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- gum recession (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- bridge (1)
- gerd (1)
