What Are Some Signs That You’re Grinding Your Teeth?

Everyone in Encino, California is guilty of grinding their teeth from time to time. However, when doing so becomes a habit, a lot of side effects occur. During an oral examination, our dentist may notice signs of chronic grinding, also known as bruxism. Some of the clues we look for are:

• Worn teeth - When you grind excessively, your teeth wear down and become short. The outermost layer of your teeth (the enamel) wears off, exposing the dentin layer, and eventually the nerve.
• Chipped and cracked teeth - Clenching puts a lot of pressure on your teeth, and the back and forth motion of grinding can cause chips and cracks to develop.
• Jagged teeth - If you grind your teeth in a certain pattern, they’ll wear in that specific way. As a result, you’ll notice some teeth that are more sharp and jagged than others.
• Sore jaw - If you spend most of your sleeping hours grinding and clenching your teeth, then it’s likely that you’ll wake up with a sore jaw in the mornings.
• Morning headaches - The pain from a sore jaw can spread to your head and give you frequent morning migraines.
• Restricted opening - When your jaw muscles seize up from the trauma of grinding and clenching, you may not be able to open your mouth as wide as you normally would.

Teeth Grinding Solutions in Encino, California

There are several treatments for grinding and clenching. Our Encino Dental Studio dentist can help diagnose your condition and give you his recommendations as to how to fix the problem.

Don’t ignore the signs of this condition because it can do some serious damage to your teeth. If you suspect you may be a victim of bruxism, schedule an appointment with us today.