If you’re battling bruxism, we are here to help you win the fight. Bruxism, also known as tooth grinding, is a fairly common problem and can have serious effects. Thankfully, there are some effective solutions out there and we are confident we can help you to banish bruxism for good.
Why am I grinding my teeth?
Grinding the teeth occurs most commonly when you sleep and many people are unaware that they do it until somebody else informs them as it happens sub-consciously. There are several possible reasons why you might grind your teeth, including:
- stress: studies show that stress increases the risk of bruxism. Common causes of stress include financial pressures, deadlines at work, family problems and illness.
- anxiety: if you’re nervous or worried about something, this can contribute to stress and you may struggle to sleep and show signs of anxiety when you sleep. Bruxism, nightmares and restlessness are examples of this.
- loose crowns, fillings or other such restorations
- orthodontic issues that affect the way the top and bottom sets of teeth fit together
Treating bruxism
The best way to treat bruxism is to determine the cause of the problem. Once we understand why you are grinding your teeth, we can work to find an effective solution. Most cases of bruxism are not linked to an underlying health or dental problem and lifestyle changes and stress management techniques may help. Tackling stress can help to reduce symptoms and possible ways of achieving this include talking therapies, counselling, breathing exercises, physical exercise and meditation. For cases where there is no obvious cause, such as loose fillings or orthodontic issues, we often recommend wearing a bite guard. Bite guards help to prevent contact between the teeth while you sleep. Every bite guard is custom-made, so you should find the appliance very comfortable.
If there are clear issues related to orthodontics, we can discuss treatment options with you. We are proud to offer a number of solutions for patients who suffer with problems such as under or overbite, crooked teeth or crowding. We are also able to replace or repair any loose or damaged restorations.
Tags: Bruxism in Leeds, Leeds Bruxism, tooth grinding Leeds, Tooth grinding treatment
