Grinding is also called bruxism.

          The Bible refers to grinding your teeth as gnashing your teeth.

          Over many years grinding will flatten teeth your teeth. This unattractive flattening can often first be seen as the cuspids, or vampire, teeth flatten and everyone can see this flattening when a patient who grinds smiles. Over many years a grinding patient can literally grind away all of the natural dental crowns. This is a good reason to seek treatment for grinding.

          The shortening of a grinding patient's teeth causes unwanted changes in the grinding patient's face. As the face becomes shorter, the grinding patient's lips thin and shorten and the face looks older than the actual age of the grinding patient.

          Some grinding patients make a great deal of noise while bruxing and their spouses may complain of not being able to get to sleep. In many cases, it is not the grinding patient but the spouse that demands treatment.

          One of the first signs of grinding is teeth that become sensitive to hot and cold. This occurs because of the flexing of the teeth that happens when they are ground from side to side. Teeth were not designed to flex so they begin to melt at the areas of bending right above the gums. This area can become very sensitive. Over time notches, called abfractions, can develop in the roots of these teeth.

          Many patients with grinding develop large bone bumps ( torii ) as the body attempts to strengthen the bone supporting the teeth that the grinding patient grinds on. Grinding patients often have temporal headaches due to the overworked chewing muscles. Sometimes they complain of dreams of losing their teeth. This is probably due to the brain incorporating the grinding pressures on the teeth while the patient sleeps into the dream that the patient is experiencing. Because of the heavy pressures on the teeth, we recommend that patients with grinding have metal amalgam fillings rather than white posterior composites. The metal holds up better to the grinding.

           A patient with grinding places a great deal of pressure on the teeth using the beaver muscles, or masseters, which are located on both sides of the face. When a weight lifter lifts weights, his muscles grow. When a grinding patient bruxes, the muscles on the side of the face grow large and change the shape of the grinding patient's face. With time it begins looking more and more square with increasing larger jowls. Enlarged jowls can also be caused by bulimia.

          The enlarged masseters can press on the parotid glands and decrease the saliva production so that the grinding patient can develop a dry mouth.

          Many patient with grinding are not even aware that they are grinding. They may grind at night ( nocturnal grinding ) and/or during the day. One way of helping a grinding patient become more aware of this grinding is to use biofeedback. Sensors are stuck to both the grinding patient's masseters. When the patient grinds, the sensors respond by causing a beep. As the beeping continues, the grinding patient quickly becomes much more aware of the grinding.

          The overuse of a grinding patient's muscles can lead to jaw pain, jaw tenderness, pain or ringing in the ears, headaches, neckaches, and decreased hearing

          Grinding often becomes worse when a patient is emotionally or physically stressed. Grinding can also be an unwanted side effect of many psychiatric drugs. We recommend trying changes in diet and vitamin and mineral supplementation because
suboptimal nutrition may be a factor in many grinding patients. Exercise releases natural endorphins and increase the blood flow to the facial muscles so that these muscles are then better fed and are able to release waste products. These factors are addressed in our six week program.

          If left untreated grinding can lead to the complete destruction of many to all of a grinding patient's teeth so the primary treatment for grinding is aimed at protecting the teeth. As the teeth shorten and lose their hard enamel coating, they become susceptible to tooth decay. They may eventually need root canal therapy if the grinding and decay hit the nerves of the teeth.

          The Atlanta Dental Group dentists recommend a mandibular soft guard along with a six week program to help with grinding.

          If you are having grinding problems and would like to consult with an Atlanta Dental Group dentist, please call and make an appointment at  404-874-7428.