The Dangers of Grinding Your Teeth

Be aware of these problems that are side effects of bruxism

Bruxism, the technical term for grinding teeth, is more than just a literal pain. It can be a major problem that affects your teeth, jaw, and facial muscles. One survey estimates that 8% of adults grind their teeth at night. This article will discuss the various dangers of grinding your teeth, including:

  • Tooth loss
  • Headaches
  • Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
  • Facial changes
  • Loose or chipped teeth
  • Gum recession
  • Locked jaw
Man in pain holding his jaw
Grinding your teeth can cause intense jaw pain. Image courtesy of Advanced Dental Care

The variety of problems that are caused by grinding your teeth have a wide range

Be aware of these dangers when noticing the side effects

A wide range of problems are caused by grinding your teeth. It is best to notice the problem and try to avoid it so you don’t run into these problems. Bruxism can be caused by a number of factors. Know these causes, and get to the root of the problem to prevent them. These causes can range from levels of stress that are not released in other ways and instead turn into grinding your teeth. Also, your ability to relax can turn into grinding your teeth. Additionally, sleeping habits can turn into teeth grinding. Finally, tooth misalignments can result in grinding your teeth. The problems that result in grinding your teeth are numerous and can be severe.

Tooth Loss is a potential problem that comes with grinding your teeth

When you grind your teeth, you can run the risk of losing your teeth! 

Tooth loss is one of the possible dangers of grinding your teeth. While it is a severe side effect, it is possible. It can be a direct effect after noticing that your teeth are chipped or loose, which we will discuss a little later in this article. It is a potential problem that can come with many difficulties. You may have to have implants or dentures as a result, which lead to many more potential problems. It’s best to avoid grinding your teeth altogether, and to get help if you find that you are, to avoid this severe symptom of grinding your teeth.

Headaches are another side effect of grinding your teeth

It is all too common to suffer from headaches as a result of bruxism, and nobody wants that! 

Everyone loathes headaches, whether they’re at the front of your head, your temples, or the back of your neck. Headaches are common after you have been grinding your teeth both at night or during the day. These can lead to more problems, so it is best to try to curb your habit. The motion of grinding your teeth causes your jaw to tense up and further cause pain in your entire head. 

Temporomandibular joint syndrome can be a side effect of grinding your teeth

The pain that is caused by grinding your teeth can lead to another uncomfortable syndrome

Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) is another danger of grinding your teeth. Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint leads to an increase in other side effects that are a pain both literally and figuratively. Some of these side effects include jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and clicking and locking of the jaw joint.

Facial changes are a severe and painful side effect of grinding your teeth

This can be due to the changing shape of your teeth

They say you can’t change the face you’re born with, but if you suffer from severe bruxism, you might find out otherwise. Facial changes due to grinding your teeth include your face actually changing shape because of changing tooth shape, as well as the jaw, having detrimental effects on the shape of your face. This side effect of grinding your teeth can be permanent, as the teeth grind down and alter the shape of your face. If you notice this happening, seek the advice of your dentist to prevent the problem from worsening.

Loose or chipped teeth is a common side effect

Be prepared to possibly find a loose or chipped tooth if you have been grinding your teeth

Loose or chipped teeth is another side effect of grinding your teeth. This can be due to the act of grinding your teeth. The teeth may loosen or even become chipped. While chipped teeth can be fixed by your dentist with caps and the like, it may be difficult to solve the problem of a loose tooth, and this may lead to losing the tooth completely, and no one wants that!

Lady sitting in a dental chair with a dentist working on her mouth
If you find yourself grinding your teeth, you may need to seek dental attention for tooth loss, chipped teeth, or gum recession.

Gum recession can be a side effect of grinding your teeth

If you find that your gums are receding, this may be because you have been grinding your teeth

Gum recession is yet another danger of grinding your teeth. This is because you put pressure on your gums when you grind your teeth. This can in turn cause the gums to recede. Then, you may have to have surgery to fix the problem. Rather, notice the problem when it starts to happen and then hopefully it won’t get to the point of no return!

A locked jaw is another side effect of grinding your teeth

If you find yourself with a locked jaw, it is likely that you are grinding your teeth

You can end up with a locked jaw because you have been grinding your teeth. This can cause discomfort and you can have trouble chewing because of a locked jaw. You may need to seek help from your dentist or use medicine to reverse this problem.

Whether due to stress and anxiety or a habit you never cut from childhood, grinding your teeth is a habit that is both painful and annoying. Be aware of the dangers of grinding your teeth to help yourself change your habit sooner rather than later.

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