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.
Posts tagged “tmj”
Battling Bruxism in London’s W1
September 23rd, 2011The problems of the TMJ in the City of London
July 25th, 2011
All dentists in the city of London are aware of the relationship between your teeth and the rest of your body. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy and free from complications can protect your body from diabetes, liver problems and heart disease later in life. But apart from this, one of the prime directives behind dental treatments is to also ensure that you have a healthy occlusion in your mouth- the way your jaws meet or ‘bite’ together. This is to limit the amount of stress placed upon the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). We probably take for granted the way we chat and chew during the day and all these actions bear down on two tiny jaw joints held in place by a series of cartilage and muscles. Keeping the bite true is the first way of protecting this joint. The second way is to address any signs of teeth grinding. If these problems go unchecked, the joint can become worn overtime, causing the jaw to click and become inflamed when using the mouth for the most basic of functions. Further damage can lead to tinnitus in the ears, headaches and damage to the neck and upper back. Initial treatments for the occlusion will involve correction of the teeth with a brace or an aligner; grinding can be checked by stress management and gum-shields. But if the damage to the jaw has already set in, surgery will be required to reverse the damage done, where possible.
Teeth straightening from Central London dentists: how to choose the best treatment for you
July 13th, 2011
Having a set of straight teeth is not only more aesthetically appealing it can also help with the health of your mouth too. Teeth which are too bunched up in one place can be recipe for cavities and it might be harder to clean plaque and debris from in between them. Nocturnal teeth grinding (known as bruxism) can also occur as a result of misaligned teeth and this can have consequences such as cavity formation and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder.
So if you have decided that your teeth need straightening out then you will be faced with the decision of which method will suit you best. There are a number of high profile newcomers to the market place when it comes to teeth straightening and each of them has a unique selling point. Six Months Smile boasts that it is able to straighten out a set of misaligned teeth in only six months. Invisalign uses only clear plastic when straightening teeth so it is very discreet. Inman aligners also claim discretion because they use only one visible part.
All of these products developed in response so criticisms of the methods of the traditional metal brace. Often having to be worn for several years, the traditional metal brace means that the wearer has a mouth full of visible metal wires and brackets. These can be hard to clean and are not removable. However, the traditional metal brace is still the best way to solve all teeth straightening issues. The newer products, for instance are not able to rotate teeth.
Talk to your Central London dentist if you want to find out more about the different ways that you can have your teeth straightened. He or she will be able to advise you about which one might suit you best.
London W1 dentists treat patients who are having problems with grinding their teeth in their sleep
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.
Stopping Teeth Grinding in West London
February 16th, 2011If you are a person on the go and have an awful lot to get through in your average day in west London, chances are, you may be leaving yourself open to a lot of stress.
Not a problem if everything is going to plan, but a couple of weeks of disaster and you could find yourself becoming a coffee drinking snarling master in danger of disaster. And another thing you may also have missed is just how angry you have become and how much you are clenching down on your teeth in frustration.
Now you are seriously putting your teeth, jaws, head, neck, and upper back in danger if you allow this process to go on. If you get home at night and fail to relax properly and forget the turmoil of the day, you will take your angst into your sleep, where you will grind your teeth in anger, which will affect all of the above areas of the body.
Once you have discovered that you are grinding your teeth, you need to confront the problem head on and seek advice from your dentist. You can get a mouth-guard fitted to protect your teeth from damage, but your dentist will also point you in the right direction for stress counseling in order to unwind from a hectic day. There is another caution attached to teeth grinding, because if you allow it to continue, it may affect the nerves from your brain, because of the damage it causes to your vertebrae.
Posted in Dental Disorders, dental pain | Comments Off
Temporomandibular joint (tmj) symptons in west London
November 14th, 2010
We all like a good chat and chew in W. London and its incredible how much stress we place on our jaws throughout the day. Every aspect of our lives involves movement in the mouth, from work to leisure and that is a lot of pressure to place on two tiny jaw joints and their muscles, teeth, nerves and ligaments. There are numerous reasons behind TMJ disorders; grinding of teeth, posture, stress, diet and sleeping problems. These directly affect the occlusion of the mouth or the bite. This is very important to keep in check as we grow up and our teeth change. Various orthodontic techniques can protect our occlusion and keep it healthy- braces, crowns, replacing missing teeth, treating sleep and teeth grinding disorders with gum-shields, and maintaining good oral hygiene. If TMJ disorders are allowed to develop, they can lead to serious health complications around the upper body. Every day functions that we take for granted, such as biting, talking and chewing can become painful. The jaw can wear and start clicking and the areas around the jaw joints can also become affected. TMJ has been directly linked to migraines, ear and eye aches, neck and even upper back problems.
Orthodontics from London W1 dentist creates beautiful smile
October 19th, 2010
Not everybody is fortunate to have naturally beautifully aligned teeth. In fact, in most cases people will suffer from some sort of alignment or spacing issue. For some people this is so small as to be barely noticeable and will require virtually no treatment. However, in other instances, the misalignment will be very pronounced and greatly affect both the way the teeth look and the way they function.
Misaligned teeth can cause problems with the occlusion (otherwise known as the bite and referring to the way the teeth sit together both when stationary and when moving). This can lead to painful conditions such as TMJ, bruxism and even migraines. Your London W1 dentist will therefore recommend orthodontics to correct the problem. The most common and well-known form of orthodontic treatment is the dental brace. This is an appliance that is fitted to the teeth, either fixed or removable, that gradually manipulates the teeth and moves them into a more desirable and healthy position.
There are many types of braces that work in different ways and for different types of misalignment. Over the last ten years, braces treatments have used new technology to improve both the speed and quality of treatment. Braces are also used for purely cosmetic reasons. This means that there might not be any purely functional reason for the teeth to be straightened but the patient simply wants to have straighter teeth for the benefit of having a healthier and more attractive looking smile. This form of cosmetic orthodontics can work wonders for the self-confidence and self-esteem of patients.
As well as this, orthodontic treatment is often used on teenage or younger patients as the teeth are more easily moved during their developing stages. Orthodontic treatments still work on adult patients but they often require more lengthy treatment periods. Speak to your dentist to find out the possibilities of orthodontic treatment for your teeth.
City of London dentist treats occlusion problem to ease pain
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.
The dangers of missing teeth solved by London W1 dentist
October 15th, 2010
There are many conditions and afflictions that can affect the teeth such as tooth decay and gum disease. If these conditions are allowed to worsen without treatment they will very often result in the death of the dental nerve and the ultimate loss of the tooth. Teeth can also be lost to dental trauma such as a motor vehicle accident or sporting injury.
Not only do missing teeth spoil the aesthetic appearance of the smile but they can also be responsible for many further dental problems. This is because missing teeth can allow more bacteria to develop in the hollows left by lost teeth. These spaces in the dental arc can also allow teeth to rotate and lean changing the alignment. This can cause problems with the occlusion or bite and lead to muscular problems and TMJ.
For these reasons, London W1 dentists always recommend that you should try and replace the missing teeth as soon as possible. There are a number of ways of doing this that include using a dental bridge, partial denture or dental implant.
Dental bridges involve filling the gap left by a missing tooth with an artificial tooth supported by two crowns, thus bridging the gap. Partial dentures are artificial teeth attached to a plate which fits into the palate. However, perhaps the most successful and popular dental replacement is a dental implant. This involves implanting a small titanium screw into the jawbone to act as a base for a replacement teeth. Dental implants are both very realistic and more solid than other dental restorations although they are also more expensive. Find out more about missing teeth and how to replace them at your next check up appointment.
Posted in Dental Crowns and Bridges | Comments Off
TMJ diagnosis from West London dentist ends painful joints
June 17th, 2010
TMJ, also commonly known as TMD or TMJD, is short for temporomandibular disorder and is a condition that affects the jaw, muscles in the neck and head and the TMJ joints next to each ear. The TMJ joint is responsible for coordinating movements that lead to eating, drinking and talking so any complaint in the area can have a significant impact on the life of the patient.
The main symptom of TMJ is unfortunately pain. This usually occurs when the patient is chewing or yawning, or any other extended movement of the TM joint. There may also be a painful ringing or tinnitus in the ear. Other major symptoms include swelling around the joint, a change in the bite and profile and trouble swallowing.
One of the major problems when diagnosing TMJ is that a lot of these symptoms can be caused by manifold other conditions, some of which are far more likely to occur. This means that TMJ is often far down the list of diagnoses. Your West London dentist, if they suspect TMJ, will conduct something called a clench test. This involves clenching the jaw to assess whether there is a structural disorder that could be TMJ.
In most cases, treatment of TMJ will involve some level of orthodontics. In some severe cases, there may be a need for surgery but most bite misalignments can be cured with orthodontic treatment. During treatment, it may be necessary to wear a mouth guard to protect the lower teeth. There are various other treatments your dentist will be able to explain upon diagnosis of TMJ. If your jaw joints hurt or are swollen, then contact a dentist and ask for a test for TMJ.
