Symptoms and Effects of Teeth Grinding

• A dull, constant headache originating in the temples
• Teeth that are suddenly more sensitive to heat, cold, or sweetness.
• Soreness on your tongue or the inside of your cheeks, as people who grind their teeth often bite themselves.
• Tired or tight jaw muscles.

What Causes Teeth Grinding?

Doctors don’t have a full understanding of all the causes for grinding your teeth. Stress, anxiety, or even pure force of habit are some common causes. Teeth grinding is very common in childhood, and it can also be caused by sleeping disorders, such as sleep apnea. If your dentist believes your teeth grinding is caused by a sleeping disorder, or another  psychological condition, he or she may refer you to a sleep specialist to determine the underlying causes that must be addressed before the teeth grinding can be alleviated. People with overbites or an abnormal alignment of their upper and lower teeth may also experience bruxism.

1. Wear a Mouth guard

Mouth guards are the easiest and most typical measures taken against teeth grinding. Your dentist will fit you with a custom plastic mouth guard that you wear every night to sleep. While you’ll probably still move your mouth during the night, the guard acts as a buffer by preventing your teeth from grinding against each other. The soft plastic keeps your teeth safe and prevents further weakening of the enamel.

2. Dental correction

In cases where your teeth  grinding is caused by a dental problem, the proper procedure to correct the issue might be the right course of action. If you grind your teeth because of a dental misalignment, braces or Invisalign might gradually help you stop by improving the issue. If you have damages to your teeth that cause irregularities in the chewing surfaces, crowns could alleviate your teeth grinding.

3. Stress management

For many people, teeth grinding is an instinctual response to stress or anxiety. Often times, if somebody is stressed at work, the subconscious anticipation of the next day’s probable stress can cause them to grind their teeth during their sleep the night before. While your dentist cannot recommend the method of stress management best suited for you, if your teeth grinding is determined to be a result of stress, seek out healthy forms of relieving stress that might help you sleep easier and grind your teeth less.

4. Avoid stimulating substances

Certain substances such as caffeinated beverages, or even alcohol, when consumed before bed can increase the frequency of teeth grinding.

5. Consult with a sleep specialist

If  it is determined that you grind your teeth as a symptom of a sleeping disorder, you may need to consult with a sleep specialist to determine the proper treatment for the disorder. By addressing your sleeping issue at its source, the symptoms of the disorder, including your teeth grinding, should gradually be minimized.

Do you think you grind your teeth at night? If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, and have not been able to determine another probable cause, it’s possible that you do. Ask your dentist to examine you for signs that you grind your teeth before your symptoms get worth, and explore which preventative measures are right for you.

Scaling and root planing, also known as conventional periodontal therapy, non-surgical periodontal therapy, or deep cleaning. Dental scaling involves the careful removal of plaque bacteria from the tooth’s surface just below the gumline. The  dentist may choose an ultrasonic instrument to scale your teeth. This features a vibrating metal tip combined with a cool water spray. The tip chips tartar away as the water flushes out the pocket.

Dental scaling is typically followed by a procedure known as root planing. Root planing reaches deeper to address the surface of the tooth’s root. This is done in the same manner as scaling. Root planing smooths the surface of the root so the gums can reattach properly.

What Is Scaling?

Dental scaling is routinely performed to help patients with gum disease and excessive plaque buildup. While a standard cleaning will address the surface of the tooth, scaling goes much deeper. If your dentist suggests dental scaling and root planing for your teeth, it’s helpful to know what this means so you can prepare for what’s ahead.

Understanding Scaling

Scaling is a common dental procedure for patients with gum disease. This is a type of dental cleaning that reaches below the gumline to remove plaque buildup. The process of scaling and root planing the teeth is often referred to as a deep cleaning. This treatment goes beyond the general cleaning that you receive with your regular checkup and annual visit.

When Is Dental Scaling Necessary?

Everyone experiences some form of plaque buildup. The saliva, bacteria, and proteins in your mouth form a thin layer that covers your teeth at almost all times. When you eat, tiny particles, acids, and sugars from the food stick to this film, creating a buildup on the teeth known as plaque. The bacteria that lives in this plaque can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings will help remove the plaque and prevent more serious problems.

If you have healthy gums, the tissue will fit tightly around the tooth and keep plaque out. However, if gum disease begins to form, this tissue will loosen. Healthy gums attach to the tooth just 1 to 3 millimeters below the gumline. With gum disease, you’ll begin to develop deeper pockets. These can fill with plaque, worsening your problems and causing symptoms like bad breath.

If you have pockets of 4 millimeters or more, your dentist will probably recommend dental scaling to remove the plaque beneath the gumline and help treat the gum disease.

Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem that involves discomfort or pain in teeth when encountering certain substances and temperatures. At least 40 million adults suffer from sensitive teeth in the United States, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

The pain is often sharp, sudden and  it may shoot into the tooth’s nerve endings. Fortunately, sensitive teeth can be treated and the condition can improve.

Causes of tooth sensitivity

“The most common symptom … is a sudden, sharp flash of pain when teeth are exposed to air, cold, sweet, acidic or hot foods,”. Some people may experience tooth sensitivity from brushing or flossing their teeth.

Tooth sensitivity after filling

Some people may experience tooth sensitivity after having a cavity filled or a filling replaced. The tooth decay that causes cavities irritates the tooth, and the filling procedure, while necessary, can lead to further sensitivity. Fortunately, tooth sensitivity after a filling should improve on its own within a few weeks. It may last longer, as much as a few months, but as long as the tooth sensitivity shows gradual improvement, there should be nothing to worry about. Persistent tooth sensitivity, however, may indicate that a root canal is needed. 

Sensitive teeth treatment

“Sensitive teeth never completely disappear,”. “Symptoms may be less or even seem to go away for a while but unless the reasons why a person’s teeth become sensitive are completely eliminated the sensitivity will come and go.”

• Desensitizing toothpaste. There are several brands of toothpaste for sensitive teeth available. Your dentist may recommend one or you may have to try different brands until you find the product that works for you. Be sure to use fluoridated toothpaste for sensitive teeth, not tartar-control toothpaste. Try spreading a thin layer of the desensitizing toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots before bed.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Avoid highly acidic foods.
• Use a fluoridated mouthwash daily.
• Avoid teeth grinding. Consider getting a mouth guard.

Gummy Smile – Causes & Treatments

When you smile, do you feel the appearance of your upper teeth is overshadowed by excessive gum tissue? Are you of the opinion that your upper teeth appear too short compared to the amount of gingival tissue displayed when you smile? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you may have a condition that is commonly called a “gummy smile” or excessive gingival display.

Gummy smile can have a negative affect on the esthetics of your smile. The good news is that a gummy smile can be corrected through various treatment options.

Causes

• An excessive display of gum tissue in your upper jaw can result from the abnormal eruption of the teeth. Teeth covered by excessive gum tissue appear short, even though they may actually be the proper length.
• The muscle that controls the movement of your upper lip could be hyperactive, causing your upper lip to rise up higher than normal. When this occurs, more of your gum tissue is exposed when you smile.
• The manner in which your upper jaw bone grew and developed could cause the appearance of a gummy smile. For instance, if there was an excessive bulging protrusion of the upper jaw within the gum tissue, you would experience an obvious gummy appearance when you smile.

Treatments

If you think you have a gummy smile, visit your dentist for confirmation and treatment options. Your dentist will examine your mouth, teeth and gums to determine the extent of the excessive gingival display and any possible causes. This examination may involve conventional and/or digital impressions of your teeth and gums. You may also need X-ray imaging so that the tooth roots and jaw bone can be carefully examined.

Your dentist may refer you to a specialist, like a periodontist, orthodontist or an oral surgeon. Depending on the nature of your specific clinical condition, treatment could include one or more of the following:

• Same-day laser treatments (in minor cases).
• Surgical lip repositioning.
• Orthodontics (braces) to move the teeth into more suitable positions.
• Surgical Sculpting of the gingival tissues and bone to create healthier and more attractive looking gum contours.
• Maxillofacial surgery to reposition the bone.

For example, according to the American Academy of Periodontology, a periodontist – a dentist specializing in the gums, soft tissues and other structures supporting the teeth – can perform a “crown lengthening” procedure to correct the appearance of a gummy smile. During this procedure, the periodontist will remove the excess gum tissue – and possibly bone – in order to expose more of the tooth’s surface. This Surgical Sculpting procedure can be performed on one or more teeth to create an even gum line or a more natural looking smile.

Saliva is a watery substance that is found in the mouths of all people. This substance is a natural part of the body that is used for chewing and swallowing food and it is also used to aid in the digestion process. Saliva not only helps us with the eating process it is also used to destroy bacteria, reduce incidence of tooth decay and it helps us to talk. Let’s check out some fun facts about saliva and how important this substance is for parents and their kids.

• Food molecules must dissolve in saliva in order to be recognized by taste buds.
• Saliva protects teeth and gums, lubricates the mouth, and helps regulate the acid balance of the mouth.
• Saliva is essential to the breakdown of food.
• Saliva can be analysed to monitor alcohol intake, smoking, and drug use. It may also be useful in diagnosing disease.
• Saliva contains enzymes that start the digestive process by helping to break down starches and fats.
• Saliva helps wounds in the mouth heal faster than wounds elsewhere on the body.
• When you are nervous or frightened, saliva production is reduced.
• Chewing sugar-free gum increases saliva production and is good for your teeth.

Why we love Saliva

Saliva is the mouths primary defence against tooth decay. Decay result from bacteria in plaque that generate acids, which attack tooth minerals. The buffering systems of saliva help counteract this acid formation. Saliva flow helps wash away the sugars and food particles that, when broken down, also produce tooth-damaging acids.

For instance, when you eat high-starch foods such as bread, the carbohydrates they contain block natural saliva flow and aren’t easily dissolved. To ensure its free flow throughout the mouth, saliva contains amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugars that clear the mouth and facilitate salivary flow.

Mineral salts in saliva — calcium and phosphate ions — slow demineralization of tooth structure and encourage ongoing re-mineralization of tooth enamel, thus reversing the decay process!

           
If you have ever seen someone with missing teeth you may have noticed that their jaw has recessed, and their face could appear as if it’s sagging. Facial sagging due to bone loss and an absence of structure due to tooth loss is common. Even patients with traditional dentures may experience some degree of facial sagging.
Tooth and bone loss can actually change the form of your facial structure altering your overall look. Facial sagging will cause premature aging and may take a toll on a patient’s self-confidence. Tooth loss destabilizes the whole structure of the jaw. With an empty root socket, space is made and allow teeth to shift. Empty sockets also weaken the bone tissue and eventually results in the bone tissues breaking down and wearing.
How am i able to stop facial sagging if I actually have missing teeth?
Missing teeth can have psychological, functional and aesthetic consequences. Replacing missing teeth promptly once a loss is an optimal solution for preventing facial sagging. Dental implants are the most supportive treatment possibility for replacing missing teeth and promoting healthy bone structure. Dental implant secured dental restoration can facilitate rebuild your overall look. For patients World Health Organization have already experienced delicate to advanced bone loss, bone attachment or other surgical treatments can be performed to reconstruct the jaw.
DENTAL IMPLANT may be used to replace a single missing tooth or to secure a dental restoration for the replacement of the many missing teeth. Implants are the most natural possibility for restoring a smile with missing teeth. Dental implants will facilitate prevent facial sagging and help stabilize the integrity of the facial structure.
Supporting Facial Integrity after Tooth Loss
Replacing teeth with dental implants will stabilize the jaw bone preventing extra tooth loss, bone loss, and facial sagging. dental implant posts mimic the natural tooth root and really help regenerate healthy bone tissue. Dental implants are made from medical grade, biocompatible materials that fuse to the jaw making a stable and lasting bond.

• A bright, shining smile will provide you with confidence in your look and let you laugh with no reserves. However poor oral health will have an effect on more than your smile.
• Oral health problems like cavities and untreated tooth decay could lead to periodontal disease.
• Inflammation caused by periodontal disease will cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Untreated Cavities and Heart Disease

• If you let an untreated cavity live in your mouth for too long, it will cause periodontal disease.
• Periodontal disease causes your gums to recede from your teeth that create a gap beneath the gum line where bacteria will hide and grow. From this gap, bacteria will enter your bloodstream and travel to your heart’s arteries.
• If the bacteria in your heart’s arteries harden, it will cause a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes plaque to grow on the inner walls of your heart’s arteries, which might restrict blood flow throughout the body. And restricted blood flow to and from your heart is the catalyst for cardiovascular disease.

Bleeding Gums and Endocarditis

Poor oral hygiene also can cause a gum infection. Infected gums can be red, sensitive, and may bleed during brushing, flossing, or during a dental cleaning. This type of bleeding might trigger a rare however serious heart disease known as endocarditis.

Bacterial growths in your heart’s inner lining will prevent your heart’s valves from operating properly. And once your valves aren’t operating efficiently, you’re at a heightened risk of heart attack

Brush Well to Protect Your Heart

Brush well to shield Your Heart An effective at-home oral health regiment is that the best way to keep your gums and teeth healthy, which keeps your heart healthy.

Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes daily and visiting your dentist at least once a year for your annual cleaning will help you keep off gum inflammation and tooth decay.