Teeth Grinding

Under normal circumstances, your teeth should only contact for about 5 minutes daily. Normal chewing results in brief intervals of contact between enamel surfaces, the hardest substance in the human body. Slight wear over years of function frequently occurs, and bite edges can chip a little. But these durable surfaces should wear at nearly undetectable rates.

Sometimes, teeth develop a flattened, worn appearance, even in young patients. X-rays may demonstrate unusually thin layers of enamel as if sandpaper has been drawn across the chewing surfaces of the teeth. A few minutes of chewing daily shouldn't erode the enamel so much.

You Don't Even Know

Some patients develop a subconscious habit of grinding their teeth, either during the day or night. The abrasive action often occurs only during sleep and for only a few seconds. If you wake up with a sore jaw or a morning headache, chances run high you're grinding your teeth at night. In some patients, enlarged jaw muscles develop on the sides of the face from the extra activity. These muscles can be the strongest in the body, ounce for ounce. That means they can generate a lot of unnecessary damage.

The unusual activity not only wears down teeth but strains the overworked muscles. The compressive forces can also damage the intricate jaw joints on one or both sides. Joint damage may lead to arthritic changes, chronic pain, and popping or clicking. Once these changes settle in, reversing their condition may become impossible.

Avoiding Irreversible Damage

If you're waking up with a sore jaw or headaches or noticed chips or flattening of your teeth, a consult with Dr. Nakhla should be on your list. The sooner the problem receives attention, the less damage there will be. Often, a carefully calibrated night guard with a distinct bite relationship built in will eliminate the symptoms while protecting your precious enamel.

Daytime clenching or grinding habits deserve attention, and strategies to reduce the problem may be developed. Crow Canyon Dental will also analyze the current relationship between your teeth to make sure they're moving against each other optimally when you chew. Regardless of the cause, eliminating the strain on the jaw and your teeth as quickly as possible can save you many problems as time goes on.