January 27th, 2012
Bruxism or teeth grinding in layman’s term is a very dangerous condition to have and seeing as the problem is borne out of a lot of stress related factors, there is a very good chance that you might have problems in a place as demanding as London’s W1. The first signs of it may become apparent when you start suffering from jaw or earache and the jaw itself clicks when you open and close it. Left unattended, the problem could cause damage to the neck, interfere with the spinal chord, and cause problems in the upper back. You will also be doing untold damage to your teeth- which although can be countered by having a mouth-guard fitted, will not get to the bottom of the problem behind why you are grinding teeth in the first place. It normally arises from stress and anger which you may be contending with throughout the day, and it doesn’t help if you do not know how to unwind when you get home. Solving this will require you to take up a stress and anger management course- to first attend to why you get worked up so much and then teach you how not to. Then you can be taught how to relax as well. By doing so you are truly saving your teeth and jaws from serious complications in the future.
September 23rd, 2011
Stress and poor diet is something that the people of London W1 can probably identify with when they are on the go all the time, which exposes them to the problem of teeth grinding or Bruxism- not that they’d probably know that they are doing it at first, for it is very prevalent when sleeping at night. The stress and anger that often follows a busy day in the city needs to be addressed because you are putting your mouth and upper body at risk. Teeth grinding affects not only the teeth by wearing the enamel away, but it can seriously damage the TMJ- the point at where the lower jaw meets the upper jaw. If this gets damaged, it can lead to tinnitus and sinus problems as well headaches and damage to the neck and upper back. The way of addressing the problem is three-fold once you realize that you have a problem, jaw ache and clicking are the main signs: firstly a gum-shield will be required to prevent any further to the teeth, then a stress management course so that you can learn how to relax more during the day and handle things better. Finally, it’s important to learn how to de-stress once you get home and the stress management course should help you to achieve this, but ignore this and you could be in peril, because if allowed to continue, it may take several operation to correct you jaw, let alone your neck.
July 4th, 2011
When you sleep you might be grinding your teeth. This is not an insignificant matter and you ought to deal with it before it can damage your teeth and lead to problems which are difficult to sort out. Thankfully there are tried and tested solutions to the issue that your dentist will be able to implement in order to help you out.
Teeth grinding during sleep is known clinically as bruxism and it is common in adults in the United Kingdom. Because sufferers are asleep while they are doing it they may not actually be aware that they have bruxism. The only way that you can tell that you have bruxism is from the effects that you will experience when you are awake.
Ways to tell that you have bruxism is if you find that you have an aching jaw when you wake up in the morning. If your teeth are suddenly becoming more sensitive despite taking excellent care of them then that too could be a sign of bruxism. It might occur in people who have stress in their daily lives or if your teeth are misaligned.
Dentists can fit mouth guards to be worn during sleep in order to ensure that your teeth are not being damaged by bruxism. This will help stop enamel from being worn away and leading to greater chances of developing cavities. If it is determined that you are grinding your teeth because they are misaligned then your dentist might decide that you need to have your teeth straightened up, perhaps with a brace or a similar device. Keep your Central London dentist in the loop about the state of your teeth with regular visits to the surgery.
June 22nd, 2011
It is just as common as snoring and yet far less talked about. Grinding your teeth in your sleep can have effects on the health of your mouth and if you think you are doing it then you should report it to your dentist as soon as possible. There is no need to feel embarrassed about raising it as it is a common complaint and your dentist will be sympathetic.
The effects of grinding your teeth in your sleep (it is clinically known as bruxism) can be detrimental on the health of your mouth. If your teeth are grinding together night after night the tough enamel which coats your teeth can begin to wear away, leaving you more open to cavities and tooth decay. The teeth themselves can even become broken down, with cracks or chips starting to appear. Bruxism also puts a degree of pressure on your jaw and can contribute to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). You might find evidence for nocturnal teeth grinding not in your teeth but in painful feelings in your jaw.
Medical professionals have determined that there are two main causes of bruxism although the two are not always mutually exclusive. Feelings of stress can manifest themselves with teeth grinding at night and it might be appropriate to receive therapy. The dental cause of bruxism can be that teeth are misaligned and when you are asleep they are clashing against one another because they are not in the right position.
In either case it is advisable to get a mouth guard fitted so that the impact of the grinding is softened and your teeth won’t get damaged. If your teeth are misaligned then you should talk to your London W1 dentist anyway about getting a brace fitted.
April 23rd, 2011
Bruxism, or teeth grinding in London W1, affects more of us than we actually realise. For all the joys of living in the city, it can come at a cost, one of which is stress- one of the main causes of teeth grinding. Having an angry temperament doesn’t help either, but if you live alone, it may be difficult to recognise you may have a problem in the first place, because in the majority of case, teeth grinding is more prevalent during sleeping. The first sign is an aching jaw and ringing in the ears- you may also suffer some discomfort during eating. Once you recognise these, you should consult your dentist. Initially, you may be prescribed a mouth guard or splint, but all this does is protect your teeth from breaking down. Really, the problem is a lot deeper and more psychological. To treat it, requires some form of therapy to isolate the fact you have a problem and then to address such things as stress and anger with a management programme. This will also teach you how to relax more when your working day is over by incorporating certain sedation and relaxation techniques to unwind to before you go to sleep. Herbal oils, aroma therapy, hot baths, music and reading come into their own at this stage of the day and calm the body down. It’s also important during the treatment to avoid caffeine based drinks and situations that will raise the heart rate and increase stress; also to change the way you approach the day as well.
February 10th, 2011
The habit of grinding your teeth in your sleep is just as common as snoring but is too often left not dealt with. However, teeth grinding ought to be taken seriously because of the effects it can have on your mouth. Your dentist can help with teeth grinding during sleep and offer advice and treatment.
The scientific name for teeth grinding during sleep is bruxism. And it has two main common causes. Stress can manifest itself in many ways in patients and one of these ways is bruxism. If you are anxious about your personal or work life you may find that you grind your teeth during sleep. It might be recommended that you see a mental health professional if this is the case.
Teeth grinding during sleep can also be caused by problems with your bite. If your teeth are not quite aligned as they ought to be then you might grind them during sleep. Your dentist might recommend that you have a brace fitted to correct this issue.
Whatever the root cause it is important that teeth grinding is not allowed to affect the health of your mouth. Sustained grinding can actually cause teeth to wear down and even crack. The end result of this might be that you have to have some teeth removed because they are so broken down.
Your London W1 dentist can construct a special mouth guard that you must wear in your sleep if you are found to be grinding your teeth. These devices take the impact off your grinding and ensure that your teeth are not damaged by your nocturnal habit. If you are experiencing unaccountable dental pain and think that you might be grinding in the night, talk to your dentist today.
October 20th, 2010
A periodontal examination is a way of assessing the health of the teeth and gums and examining for the signs of dental conditions such as decay and gingivitis. Central London dentists examines the teeth and gums for the signs of bruxism, receding gums and even the symptoms of oral cancer.
Here is a breakdown of what your dentist will do during a standard periodontal examination:
Firstly, they will check for lumps or any other unusual areas in the mouth. These could indicate oral cancer or could be the sign of a dental infection. If they are unsure about any suspicious areas you may be referred to a specialist. The dentists will also examine the teeth to see if any are loose or if there are any other significant problems with their structure.
The dentist will also examine the size, shape and texture of the gums. Any unusual discolouration, swelling or different shaping could be an indication of gum disease which will need immediate treatment. The dentist will also examine the teeth and gums for plaque and tartar, the two substances responsible for gum disease and tooth decay.
As well as these problems the dentist will also be looking for the signs of receding gums, measuring the occlusion (the way the teeth sit together when they are closed and when they are chewing). Any problems they discover will then be treated immediately if possible or an appointment for further treatment arranged. Treating dental problems early in this way will mean that you have the best chance of avoiding complicated and costly dental treatment in the future.
October 17th, 2010
Dental occlusion is the way that the top and bottom teeth sit together and the contact between them (the technical term for top and bottom teeth is the maxillary and mandibular teeth). Occlusion also refers to the way that the teeth approach each other during chewing and eating.
Problems occurring with the occlusion are quite common and often referred to generally as malocclusion. This means that the teeth do not sit together well and is often simply refereed to as bad bite. This can be the source of discomfort but it can also be responsible for many further health complications and problems.
Again being more specific, static occlusion is when the teeth are closed together and dynamic occlusion is when the teeth make contact when they are in motion. Problems with these types of occlusion can cause many problems not just with the teeth but also with the gums and with the temporomandibular joint and jaw muscles. These are commonly defined as grinding or bruxism, TMJ or a ringing or painful buzzing in the ears. These conditions can lead to wider health problems such as headaches, shoulder and neck pain.
The main ways of treating malocclusion involves your City of London dentist altering your bite in order to reduce the tension on the bite. This is commonly performed using a dental brace which will alter the way the teeth are aligned and the way in which they sit together. It will also have the added advantage of making teeth look straighter and more even.
July 3rd, 2010
Grinding your teeth during sleep, also known a bruxism, could be very damaging to your enamel, weakening it to the point that it becomes a serious dental concern. There are many reasons why bruxism occurs. One of the main causes is stress but it can also be linked to a misaligned bite. This causes a tension in the jaw muscles, which is released by subconscious grinding.
Constant teeth grinding will eventually begin to loosen and weaken tooth enamel. This is the hard protective coating around the outside of your teeth. Tooth enamel does not grow back so once it is gone, it is gone forever. Enamel is the main defence against tooth decay, acting as a barrier against plaque and bacterial acid which threatens the sensitive inner parts of the teeth. If the enamel is thinned by grinding, it takes far less bacteria and plaque to start causing serious tooth decay. This could result in great pain and the need for expensive dental treatment.
Misalignment of the jaw, leading to bite complications can often be caused by stress or even a physical trauma. In other cases it is just the result of a genetic predisposition. In most cases, your City of London dentist maybe able to take steps to realign the jaw but at the very least they could provide you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during teeth. This appliance, usually made of rubber or other absorbent material, prevents the teeth from grinding against each other and eroding the enamel.
If you or your child suffer from grinding teeth, make an appointment to see your dentist. They will be able to repair any damage caused by bruxism and provide you with the means to stop any further damage.
March 15th, 2010
Teeth grinding during sleep may not seem like the biggest problem other than being annoying for anyone you have to share a bed with, but if it continues over a period of time it can break down tooth enamel and cause serious structural damage to teeth.
Also known as bruxism, for many years subconscious teeth grinding was thought to be caused solely by stress and anxiety. This may be true for some cases but these tend to be temporary. Many dentists have conducted studies in recent years to demonstrate another more common cause for the condition.
They have concluded that bruxism is more often than not caused by a disruption in bite. This is the way the top and bottom teeth sit together and can be affected by such factors as physical trauma, tooth loss and tooth movement. If the teeth do not sit together comfortable it may cause the jaw muscles to spasm and move, which leads the teeth to rub against each other.
If this happens for several hours a night over an extended period you can imagine that it doesn’t take long before an irreversible process of enamel removal begins to take effect. If the enamel breaks down it can lead to dangerous cavities which expose the dental nerves to infection and can be extremely painful. London W1 dentists can treat bruxism ether by correcting the misalignment or by providing the patient with a dental appliance to protect the teeth during sleep.
