What Happens When You Clench Your Teeth?

Bruxism is known as the act of grinding or clenching your teeth. It can happen during the day or the night, but it is typically an involuntary action. In other words, you don’t always know you are doing it. Many people clench their teeth during sleep, but others engage in the habit during the day as a subconscious response to anxiety and stress or as they concentrate hard or exercise heavily. It’s not uncommon for long-distance runners to finish their workouts with sore legs as well as a sore jaw.

Did you know that when you grind or clench your teeth, the pressure you exert is almost 10 times the that or regular biting and chewing? This is a serious discrepancy, and one that doesn’t come without consequences. Over time, your teeth clenching habit could result in the following problems:

Damaged Teeth or Dental Work

The enamel of your teeth is the hardest substance in your entire body. However, under the pressure and force of bruxism, this outer layer of your teeth can wear down or chip. This exposes your teeth to decay and may also lead to sensitivity to hot and cold. In addition, if you have a crown, dental implant, bridge or filling, your teeth clenching habit can sabotage your restorative dentistry investment. Just like your teeth, your restorations simply can’t hold up against the extreme daily pressures.

TMJ Disorder

While teeth grinding is more likely to cause worn down teeth, teeth clenching is more often associated with painful jaw symptoms. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is what allows you to move your jaw. When you exert tremendous force from this jaw muscle for long periods of time, it is understandable why this joint will respond with discomfort and dysfunction. Excessive strain and/or damage to the TMJ from constant clenching leads to pain or soreness in the actual joint as well as clicking and popping while eating. Some people find that after working hard at a computer all day, exercising strenuously or sleeping, their jaw struggles to open at all. If you can relate, you most likely have a teeth clenching habit that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

How to Fix Daytime Clenching?

You may already know that nighttime teeth grinding can be treated with a custom mouthguard. But what if you clench your teeth during the day? The first step is to let your dentist know. At Rivers + Tanner Family Dentistry, we listen to your concerns and work hard to determine the root cause of your bruxism. If it is stress or anxiety, we may suggest you find ways to relax throughout the day. If your condition is brought on by a misalignment, there are options to correct the way your teeth bite down together so that clenching/grinding doesn’t occur. In other patients, your medication could be causing the extra jaw exertion. Never assume that you have to deal with your bruxism habit on your own.

If you live in Mount Pleasant, Rivers + Tanner Family Dentistry is here to help. For the sake of your daily comfort as well as your smile health, call our office today.