Nighttime teeth grinding is a common problem affecting about 10% of Americans, and without treatment, clenching can lead to significant oral health problems, including tooth loss. The problem: If you’re sleeping, how can you tell if you’re clenching? The answer: By looking for certain signs.
At Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC, our team has the experience and the expertise to spot even the subtlest signs of clenching, providing therapies focused on avoiding serious tooth damage while relieving uncomfortable symptoms. In this post, learn some of the common symptoms that could mean you have a clenching problem.
When you clench, your teeth are subjected to as much as 250 pounds of force. Not surprisingly, that amount of force puts a lot of tension on your jaw muscles. Over time, the continual strain on jaw muscles can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD), a chronic condition associated with persistent pain and “sticking” sensations.
Morning headaches or facial pain can be another sign of nighttime clenching. Often, headaches from clenching center on your temple area, caused by continual muscle tension in your jaws.
In addition to headaches, you might have pain in other areas, like your cheeks, ear areas, neck, and shoulders.
The extreme pressure exerted during clenching can lead to tiny cracks or fissures in the tooth enamel. Once the enamel starts to wear away, the underlying layers of the teeth are exposed.
Because of their proximity to the tooth’s nerves, these layers are far more prone to sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. If you find hot or cold foods and drinks are causing tooth pain, nighttime clenching could be to blame.
Tiny cracks aren’t the only clenching-related damage you need to watch out for. Increased pressure on tooth surfaces can weaken your teeth, leading to chips and fractures. Sometimes, tooth damage is too subtle to notice. Fortunately, our team is skilled in spotting tiny signs of damage before they become major problems.
When you clench your teeth, they’re stationary, so you’re not going to hear anything. But many people who clench also grind their teeth, a condition called bruxism.
Grinding can cause noises — sometimes alarmingly loud noises — that are noticeable by you or by your sleeping partner. In extreme cases, your grinding sounds may be audible in another room.
If you do grind, that continual movement of tooth against tooth causes a lot of wear-and-tear on your teeth. In addition to tooth pain and sensitivity, clenching combined with grinding can wear away tooth surfaces, making your teeth look uneven and significantly increasing your risks of cavities and other damage.
Clenching and grinding also increase your risk of receding gums. When you clench and grind your teeth, the pressure on your teeth is transferred to your gum tissue, causing irritation, inflammation, and, eventually, recession. Receding gums allow harmful bacteria to migrate down the tooth surfaces, and over time, that can lead to gum disease and tooth loss.
If you have sensitive teeth, gum recession, or other signs of nighttime clenching, it’s important to seek treatment immediately before more serious problems develop. To schedule an exam and evaluation, call 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC in New York City today.
