Problems caused by teeth grinding and solutions for its prevention
Teeth grinding is a problem that is sometimes ignored, at least until the problem causes significant damage to the person’s teeth. Whilst the grinding of teeth can be portrayed as humourous in cartoons and the like, for a teeth grinder, the consequences can be disastrous.
Teeth grinding, or to give it its medical term, ‘bruxism’, is relatively common and can occur in most of the population from time to time. Although we occasionally may be conscious of it, such as when we are angry with someone, the reality is that, for most of us, the majority of it occurs during sleep. Because of this fact, bruxism is almost impossible to control through willpower alone.
At Beau Monde Dental Care we regularly see the damage which this habit can cause, ranging from the gradual wearing down of the teeth through to complete breakage in extreme cases. This damage can usually be repaired, for example by the use of dental crowns but without a doubt, prevention is much better than cure.