Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is the involuntary clenching, grinding and gnashing of the teeth, most often happening when we try to compensate for an imperfect bite.
Causes and signs
Grinding generally happens during sleep, though some people also experience it while awake. Other causes include difficulty dealing with stress, an aggressive personality, competitiveness, nervous tension, sleeping habits, posture and diet. Signs of teeth grinding include:
- Teeth starting to become flat
- Highly sensitive dentine
- Cracking or ticking of the jaw
- Headache
- Earache
- Insomnia
- Tongue indentations
Night splints
Due to the pressure that grinding puts on your teeth, people who grind at night are often recommended a night splint. This acrylic guard, similar in appearance to a sport mouthguard but much finer, prevents further damage to tooth enamel, gums and soft tissue, and helps reposition the jaw so the muscles can relax during sleep.
Teeth grinding solutions at United Smiles
Bruxism can be a serious dental problem if left untreated, putting the health of your teeth at risk in the long run. We provide high-quality night splints at United Smiles in Mernda to help manage bruxism.
Our special offers
At United Smiles, our goal is to make quality dental care affordable. No gap on dental checkup and clean for Medibank Private, HCF and CBHS.
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