10 Daily Tips To Improve Overall Oral Health

Seek Help For Grinding

Grinding teeth is a common factor that is detrimental to one's oral health. Many do not even realize that they are participating in this habit, especially those who only grind in their sleep. Grinding teeth is most commonly a result of stress, anxiety, or an improper bite alignment. In many cases, patients are unaware they grind their teeth until it is heard by a loved one or mentioned by a dental professional. When sleep grinding, the jaw exerts three to ten times more force than when chewing and breaking down food. When eating, part of the force is absorbed by the food a person is chewing, creating a buffer and lessening the amount of force on the teeth. However, when grinding in the absence of food, the teeth are required to take the entire force of the jaw. This contributes to the wearing down of tooth enamel, making teeth more susceptible to damage. In more severe cases, a patient has ground through the upper enamel and exposed the layer of dentin, which leads to an increase in sensitivity and further tooth decay. A properly molded mouth guard is an essential prevention tool that should be worn nightly for those who grind their teeth.