LOOKING INTO THE TOOTH... I MEAN TRUTH!

Every news outlet from coast to coast constantly reminds us of our poor economic situation. This repetitious reminder in addition to our own personal struggles in life makes for a very stressful existence.

Stress comes in many forms. Money, homes, employment, food, healthcare; we are all dealing with one issue or another that negatively affect our life styles. Dealing with these issues can ultimately manifest itself physically and compromise our health.

Depression, over eating, under eating, excessive drinking, smoking and grinding; that’s right, I said grinding otherwise known as bruxism, are just some of the ways our bodies and mind exhibit stressful times.

Bruxism or teeth grinding and clinching is a destructive disorder that can result from but is not limited to anger, tension, anxiety and frustration. All feelings commonly felt during hard times. Getting help from your dentist can alleviate symptoms and prevent unnecessary trauma to your joints, teeth, and muscles.

If you’re not sure if you grind or clinch, symptoms indicative of bruxism are listed below:

• Jaw disorders such as tightness, limited opening, soreness, TMJ issues
• Teeth worn flat
• Grinding noises that wake you or your partner from sleep
• Exposure of inner layers of tooth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Gingival recession
• Headaches
• Fractured teeth
• Chronic facial pain
• Tooth mobility
• Earache
• Tooth abrasion
• Chipping teeth

Currently, the most common modality for prevention and preservation with this disorder is with a splint or tooth guard. Your dentist can fabricate a custom full arch guard or a smaller guard that snaps onto your two front teeth. This puts your jaw in a relaxed position and prevents the teeth from touching. The use of Botulism A to paralyze the masticating muscles is being investigated, but the verdict isn’t out yet.

A custom made mouth guard will run you anywhere from $300 – $600. Although this sounds expensive, it will save your teeth and money in the long run. Generic boil and mold guards can be purchased at a drug or sports store. They won’t be custom, but it’s better than nothing.