Category: Teeth Care

Does Drinking Alcohol Make My Teeth Grinding Habit Worse?

Carla noticed that her teeth and jaw hurt more after the nights that she would have a couple of drinks before bed.

“My teeth pain is definitely worse the next morning after drinking alcohol compared to nights when I don’t drink,” she tells her dentist.

“Wearing my night guard helps a lot… when I remember to wear it.” she adds.

Carla confesses that on the nights that she has imbibed, she is less likely to remember to wear the night guard before bed.
“I forget!” She tosses up her hands casually.

Her dentist gives her a look and again stresses the importance of wearing the night guard.

“Think of it like a protective case for your teeth. The power of your jaw is greater at night. Much greater. It can do a lot of damage over long periods of time. Your teeth have little micro cracks in them. Fracture lines. I can see them. Alcohol & teeth grinding are linked. Alcohol intake before bed disrupts sleep patterns and can intensify teeth grinding,”

“And soon… You’ll experience far more than just a little pain and discomfort
(if you keep forgetting to wear your night guard that is).”

“Like what?” Carla asks.

“Eventually your teeth can start chipping and breaking. The teeth pain and jaw pain will become greater. You may begin to experience tooth sensitivity.
Not to mention teeth flattening that will make your skin around the mouth appear saggy.”

Carla’s eyes widen in alarm.

Her dentist smiles kindly. “It’s preventable Carla. Don’t drink before bed and WEAR YOUR NIGHT GUARD.”

Does Drinking Alcohol Make My Teeth Grinding Habit Worse? Really?

Recent research points to YES.

A series of over 800 studies were conducted on the link between sleep bruxism and alcohol consumption. Of these 800 studies, the authors selected 7 to be included (samples ranging from 51 to over 10,000 participants).

The findings were published in The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). Results showed that sleep bruxism was highly associated with alcohol and tobacco use – even more than patients who drank 8 or more cups of coffee a day!

It turns out that as far as nighttime teeth grinding goes, alcohol wreaks even more havoc on your teeth than an entire pot of coffee. Eek!

The study concluded by stating that while there is a correlation between alcohol & teeth grinding, more research is needed to further evaluate the effects of consuming alcohol, teeth grinding and the resulting damage that can occur.

Your Teeth Grinding Habit is Generally Linked to Stress.

As if carrying the weight of stress isn’t enough (sigh)? Now our teeth have to hurt too!

Most often, the stress in one’s life is how it begins. We hold tension in our upper back, neck and jaw. We clench our teeth together during the day and at night.

But the keyword here is “habit”. Once a habit is formed, it is hard to break.
Your stressful days may be long behind you, but that pesky teeth grinding habit can hang in their like a hair in a biscuit!

Bruxism can be an incredibly difficult habit to break, and one thing that does not help in the quest to stop nightly teeth grinding is the consumption of alcohol.

Things you can do to lessen the severity of teeth grinding, or stop it all together

1.) Lower stress levels.

These are things you probably already know, but are you implementing them?

Daily exercise reduces stress levels. It’s a known fact. Make good day to day decisions. Good decisions build self confidence.

Eat better. Be kinder to yourself and other people. Remember Newton’s 3rd law of motion? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Be the best version of yourself. Stay away from negative people. Take control of your life or it will take control of you!

2.) Avoid alcohol, caffeine and any type of stimulants – such as adderall, diet pills, etc.

Teeth grinding intensifies after consuming these things, especially at night. Alcohol & teeth grinding are two habits that do not go together well. The end result can be damaged teeth and a whole lot of pain.

If you have a glass of wine, get it over with early in the evening and give yourself a few hours to wind down, or better yet, avoid it entirely!

Don’t drink coffee late in the day and for goodness sake how bout’ we put the cocaine and meth down shall we? For good!

3.) Wear a dental night guard.

Wearing a dental night guard for your teeth can greatly reduce and even eliminate the jaw pain and teeth pain that stems from grinding and clenching teeth.

It will 100% protect your teeth from further damage. It provides protection from the teeth so that there is no tooth on tooth contact. Make sure your night guard fits well and is comfortable in the mouth.

Avoid mass produced “one size fits all” dental night guards as the ill-fit and bulkiness can cause discomfort.

Signs that you’re grinding or clenching your teeth

• Teeth pain/sensitivity
• Jaw pain
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Your partner hears you grinding your teeth
• Your dentist says you’re grinding your teeth

You Are In Control.

If you believe you’re suffering from teeth or jaw pain because of excessive teeth grinding, a.k.a. Bruxism, contact your dentist as he/she can evaluate the health of your teeth.

Take control early. Wearing a dental night guard is PREVENTATIVE. It can save you thousands of dollars down the road.

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When the margin of your gum tissue starts pulling back, your teeth are exposed.

This process is known as gum recession. It is not something that can be easily noticed since the process is gradual and the early symptoms are usually ignored. Gum recession is a serious dental condition which could lead to loss of teeth if left untreated. This is usually because the bone structure of teeth is damaged thus preventing teeth from being firmly held. If you have gum recession, you will be glad to know there are treatment methods available and steps you can take to prevent it from progressing.

Why Do Gums Recede?
1. Poor Dental Health
Brushing and flossing your teeth is mandatory. Failure to do these as required results in formation and accumulation of plaque which later turns to tartar.

2. Poor Brushing Methods
Brushing should be done gently. When done aggressively, it makes the enamel wear away thus leading to gum recession.

3. Periodontal Disease
This is a gum infection which destroys the gum and supporting bone tissue thus leading to loss of teeth. In many cases, gum recession occurs due to gum disease

4. Bruxism
This is the grinding of teeth. When a lot of force is exerted on teeth, the gums recede.

5. Tongue or Lip Piercings
As cool as these piercings look, they can cause damage. The piercings irritate the gum causing it to wear away gradually.

How Can I Prevent Gum Recession?
It has been repeatedly said that prevention is better than cure and this is true in this case. There are various things you can do to make sure you are not a victim of gum recession. The most common 3 ways to prevent gum recession include:

1. Wearing a Mouth Guard
A mouth guard is a covering worn over the teeth. Its purpose is to protect your teeth from harm that may be caused by grinding or any other harmful thing.

There are different kinds of mouth guards. In order for them to work effectively, you need to know which type to use. The various kinds of mouth guards include:
a) Stock Mouth Guards
These guards come ready made and they can be easily found in various stores. Many people opt for this type of mouth guards because they are cheap. In the long run, they are expensive due to the oral damage they can cause. Most of us have different dental structures and needs hence, a mouth guard may need to be adjusted to meet those needs. Stock mouth guards can rarely be adjusted and this makes it difficult for you to talk or breathe normally.

b) Boil and Bite Mouth Guards
They are also commonly found in various stores. The boil and bite mouth protector works by boiling it to soften it and then placing it in your mouth. Once it is in your mouth, you can shape it using your finger or tongue by applying pressure around it. They provide more protection than stock mouth guards since their structure can be altered to fit your needs.

c) Custom mouth Guards
These are the best mouth guards to use. The guards are usually designed by your dentist or available for order online and fitted in your mouth after being molded. Unlike stock mouth guards, custom guards are comfortable to wear and offer maximum protection. Some people avoid using custom guards due to their expensive nature but a person can now purchase custom dental night guards online bypassing the dentist and saving hundreds of dollars.

The type of custom mouth guard prescribed by your dentist will depend on how severe your teeth grinding is. The main types of custom night guards include:

i) Soft Night Guard
It is suitable for mild cases of teeth grinding. They are made using soft material which makes it comfortable for you to wear it.

ii) Dual Laminate Night Guard
It is made of soft material on the inside and hard material on the outside. This type of night guard lasts longer and is suitable for severe cases of teeth grinding.

iii) Hard Night Guard
This is the hardest type of night guard and is suitable in cases of heavy teeth grinding. It can last up to 5 years.

2 Proper Brushing Methods
Brush your teeth gently preferably 3 times a day. Avoid being aggressive while bushing and also avoid brushing your teeth multiple times a day. This may make the enamel of your teeth wear off which results in gum recession.

Something most people do wrong is brushing their teeth for 30 seconds and then rinse their mouths and go. Proper brushing should be done for about 2 minutes so that you can remove as much residue as possible from your teeth.

If the toothbrush you are currently using is almost a year old, you need to throw it out immediately. Dentists recommend that you change your toothbrush after every 3 months of use. Yes, even if it still looks new, it may not be effective in removing plaque compared to new brushes. You should also change your brush each time you have a flu or cold to make sure the germs that stick to your toothbrush do not cause a re-infection.

3 Treating Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease needs to be treated as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your gums and bone tissues. The type of treatment you will require depends on how advanced the periodontal disease is.

Mild cases of the disease will require deep cleaning to remove plaque. A laser may be used at times to remove tartar and plaque. It results in less inflammation, less bleeding, and less discomfort. In addition to this treatment method, antibiotics may be prescribed to kill the remaining bacteria and reduce the size of periodontal pockets.

In severe cases, surgery is necessary. If deep cleaning and antibiotics do not work, surgery is unavoidable. In this case, the gums are lifted to remove tartar and they are sutured back so that they can be firm around the tooth. This procedure is known as flap surgery.

Grafting is another procedure performed to regenerate tissue of the bone or gum which was lost due to the disease. The graft used can be either synthetic or natural. The type of graft used will depend on your situation since each case is different. You should always ask your dentist about the level of success of the graft he chooses to use.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

“Why are My Teeth Sensitive to Hot and Cold Foods and Drinks?”

Tooth sensitivity is the simple term commonly used to refer to root sensitivity or dentin hypersensitivity. Having sensitive teeth means cold, hot, sweet and highly acidic drinks and foods, or even breathing cold air will make you feel pain in your teeth.

This problem is very common and is fortunately treatable.

Tooth sensitivity develops when our gums recede, or when the enamel, the outer, protective layer of our teeth becomes thinner. This exposes dentin, which is the underlying surface of the tooth – weakening the protection that the gums and the enamel give to the root of the tooth.

Dentin, the material found in the inner tooth, is composed of tiny tubules which contain microscopic nerve endings.

A hard outer coating of enamel covers the dentine in the crown section of the tooth.

The dentine in the root of the tooth is protected by a layer of thin, bony material called the cementum.

Nerve irritation –or dentin hypersensitivity– is the result of dentin losing this protective coating of cementum or enamel.

The stimulated hypersensitive nerve endings become inflamed, painful and sensitive when exposed to cold, hot, sticky, or acidic foods and drinks, and sometimes even cold air.

Below are some causes of tooth sensitivity:

• Toothbrush abrasion –brushing teeth too hard, especially in a side-to-side motion. This leads to the wearing away of the enamel, particularly in the sections where teeth and gums meet. The newly exposed dentine becomes sensitive.

• Dental erosion –this refers to degradation of the tooth enamel due to acid attacks from acidic drinks and food. The worn enamel leads to dentine exposure, resulting in tooth sensitivity.

• Natural gum recession –this is when our gums recede or shrink back naturally, leaving the roots of the teeth exposed. The roots are therefore left with no protection, resulting in tooth sensitivity.

• Gum disease –Accumulation of tartar or plaque can result in the gum receding downward. This may even damage the bony material that supports the tooth.

Pockets may also develop in the gums surrounding the tooth, rendering such sections hard to clean properly and worsening the problem.

Occasionally, heat sensitivity may indicate that the tooth is infected by bacteria from the inside. These bacteria may enter through a cavity, a crack, or a leaking dental crown or filling.

Bacteria emit gas as part of their natural processes. Exposing such a tooth to heat makes the gas which is trapped inside the hollow tooth interior to heat up and expand. The expansion of this heated gas applies pressure to the hypersensitive nerve tissue, causing pain.

• Tooth grinding –This habit involves grinding and clenching teeth together. This leads to the wearing down of the tooth enamel which causes the sensitive nerves in the dentin to be inflamed, leading to tooth sensitivity.

The solution to this problem is to wear a dental night guard. You can wear a daytime and/or nighttime guard. For more information on dental night guards and online ordering click here.

• A filling or cracked tooth –a cracked tooth is one which is broken. A crack may begin from the biting area of the tooth and continue downwards to the root. Severe temperatures, particularly cold, may cause immense discomfort.

• Tooth bleaching –There are people who briefly experience tooth sensitivity during or after the bleaching procedure.

How can I make my teeth less sensitive to hot and cold foods?

Tooth sensitivity can be reduced in several ways.

• Brushing thoroughly with low-abrasion toothpaste is one way

• Flossing daily is another way since this will eliminate plaque between gums and teeth

• Reducing intake of highly acidic food and drinks will also prevent this problem.

“Does My Sleep Apnea Also Make Me Grind My Teeth?”

It’s only natural for most people to grind and clench their teeth once in a while. Occasional teeth clenching and grinding does not usually cause any lasting damage or harm. However, when teeth grinding occurs frequently, eventually the teeth can be damaged and other more serious oral health complications can arise. This teeth grinding disorder can sometimes be coupled with sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea and Teeth Grinding. What’s The Common Thread?

The disorder “bruxism” is sometimes triggered when people experience periods of being partially awoken from their sleep. For that reason, bruxism is often associated with sleep disorders that engage in breathing pauses during sleep, extreme movements and snoring, which are symptoms linked to the sleep apnea disorder.

Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• • Snoring loudly

• • Feeling tired the next day

• • Morning headaches

• • Moody

• • Restless sleep

• Sleep interruptions including choking or gagging

According to an article written for CNN.com, sleep apnea is a condition that affects an estimated one in 15 Americans but often goes undetected. Likewise, bruxing or night teeth grinding statistics are roughly the same numbers. People who have sleep apnea repeatedly stop breathing during their sleep, in some cases, hundreds of times. Individuals with untreated sleep-apnea are usually unaware they are suffering with the disorder. This is the same case with bruxism. Most people are completely unaware of their teeth grinding or clenching. Sleep apnea is a bit more serious as it means the brain and the body may be deprived of oxygen, all while the individual is asleep. The most common form of the sleep apnea disorder is obstructive sleep apnea. This particular sleep disorder is caused by an inadvertent blockage of the mouth by the soft tissues in the rear of the tongue and the mouth collapsing during sleep.

Evidence tells us that nighttime teeth grinding (otherwise known as bruxism) is a red flag for sleep apnea. Studies have shown people are more likely to grind their teeth while they’re asleep if they suffer from a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea.

You may be asking yourself, does having sleep apnea also make me grind my teeth?

In recent years; studies have indicated that airway instability during sleep, such as sleep apnea significantly causes nighttime bruxism. This makes sense. As we fall asleep, a shift in muscle tone regulation occurs with the parts of the mouth that are responsible for the breathing airway at night. Your brain repositions how the tongue, jaw and soft palette all interact at the toward the read of the mouth’s airway. This determines the way you are able to breathe and sleep at night, thus, affecting your sleeping ability.

As you sleep, the tongue in particular becomes less tense, naturally falling backwards towards the throat. This can lead to significant airway resistance or critical obstruction during sleep. Since the individual is sleeping, the only anticipated defense against this process is to continuously clench the teeth, i.e. grinding, to subsequently stimulate the muscles and soft tissues in the upper airway to hold the tongue in place and keep the airway more open.

These credible clinical researches have also shown that treating the obstructive breathing issues during sleep leads to significant improvement or complete resolution of nocturnal bruxism in many cases.

You certainly can’t die from grinding your teeth, but any breathing disorder can become life-threateningly serious.

Though there is no guaranteed cure for teeth grinding, this disorder may decrease in frequency and/or cease to exist if:

A: You are diagnosed with sleep apnea

B: Treat the sleep apnea disorder, as you will have possibly removed your body’s impulse to grind in the first place.

Keep in mind that if you grind or clench your teeth because of a separate reason (ex: stress) you may be able to resolve the sleep apnea but not the teeth grinding. In this case you will want to concentrate on tips to reduce your stress level.

How do I treat sleep apnea?

The most common treatment routes for sleep apnea are:

• The use of a CPAP mask
• Lifestyle changes (including exercise, diet, no smoking, no alcohol can significantly help)
• Throat exercises
• Treatment for an underlying medical condition
• Keep regular sleep hours

Directly treating sleep apnea does not guarantee that your bruxism disorder will stop though if you have been diagnosed with both disorders you should seek treatment for sleep apnea. This may help resolve your bruxing as well. If you find you are still grinding/clenching and damaging your teeth you will need to wear a custom made dental night guard to prevent any further damage to your teeth.

Note from our author*

We now have almost 50 separate articles written & almost all are addressing questions that have been asked by real customers. Take a look around our Sentinel Blog. If you have anything to add, questions or concerns please use the comments box below. We’d love to talk!

Can a Child Wear a Dental Night Guard?

Short answer: Ask your dentist. Recommended use for children varies greatly.

As parents, we deal with miniature crisis’ all the time–scraped knees, growing pains, hunger pains, sick days, and everything in between. These common issues have aided us in becoming pretty proficient in what to do when unexpected situations arise, but when faced with child teeth grinding, there seems to be a lack of clarity, understanding and call-to-action.

Here, we attempt to answer the most common questions regarding teeth grinding or jaw clenching in children under 12.

What causes teeth grinding in children?

As of today, dentists, academics and researchers alike still can’t fully agree on the reason we grind our teeth. It is generally agreed upon, however, that stress & anxiety are contributing factors.

Is there anything I can do to lower the chances of my child grinding his/her teeth?

There could be some things in your child’s environment that trigger instances of teeth grinding. Some tips to create a calmer environment include:

• It sounds cliche! But, minimize everyday stress. Plan ahead. Make lunches the night before school. Lay out clothes ahead of time. Get up on time in the morning. Understand the needs of your children and meet them.
• Parents! Get control of your own anxiety. Your kids are “mini-you’s”. Lead by example.
• Create a calm and soothing bedroom. Listen to your child and let them have a hand in decorating their own bedroom. Choose their favorite colors and consider low lighting.
• Exercising every day and healthy eating. Less sugar.
• Positive reinforcement instead of negative.
• Reading books before bed.

Is there perhaps another reason my child is grinding (or clenching) his/her teeth?

One of the more common possibilities that are being explored has to deal with the growth phases of a child’s teeth and jaw. During the nascent stages of development, a child’s top and bottom set of teeth do not fit together comfortably. The instinctive response that some children have because of this fact is to grind their teeth to provide a respite from the discomfort that they may be experiencing.

Some children tend to outgrow the habit of teeth grinding. Other children may develop an attachment to the habit and carry it well into adulthood.

Ok. So how do I stop his/her teeth grinding?

You should know that there is no known cure for teeth grinding. Many children will outgrow the habit by age 12. Your first step is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. The dentist may suggest your child wear a custom night guard.
There seems to be a lot of contradictory information as far as what age is acceptable for a child to wear a night guard to bed.
Ask your dentist to see what he/she recommends.

Is there a choking risk?

There does not appear to be any choking risk from wearing a dental night guard.

Here is a great forum about dental night guard use from real users with personal experiences.

Custom Made Dental Night Guards

Upsides:

• Far more superior to athletic mouth guards or OTC (over-the-counter, or mass produced)
• Guaranteed proper and comfortable fit

Downside:

• The dental anatomy in children is constantly changing, so you’ll need to replace them frequently to maintain an exact fit.

So what to do now?
Being a parent, you would immediately want to acquire a clear-cut solution to the teeth grinding challenges that your child is currently facing.

The first thing that you should do is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. An initial consultation with an established dental practitioner may yield a few solutions for this specific occurrence.

So, can a child wear a dental night guard?
The most common solution that dentists may prescribe is to have your child use a dental night guard while he / she sleeps. The decision to employ a dental night guard can prevent your child from forming permanent damage from grinding his / her teeth. Remember: teeth don’t grow back.

Risks and precautions

While a dental night guard may seem like an ideal solution for your child’s teeth grinding problems, there are still a few caveats that you must take into account.

Some children may not feel comfortable using a mouth guard at night. The sense of discomfort that they experience could interfere with their sleeping patterns. Even if your child doesn’t have any issues with using a dental night guard, there are still a few things that you need to watch out for.

Once you spot that the form of the dental night guard has become irregular, stop using the device and acquire a replacement as soon as possible.

Some children may experience oral irritation because of frequent utilization of a dental night guard. Before you have your child use the device, make sure that you check his / her gums for any mouth sores or other oral lesions.

Given the nature of appliance, dental night guards tend to accumulate a considerable amount of bacteria over a period of time. You must be rigorous when it comes to sanitizing the dental night guard that your child uses on a daily basis.

Over the course of using the night guard, make sure that you get to schedule regular oral exams with your child’s dentist in order to assess the progress that has been made or whether adjustments need to be executed.

Final Thoughts: Can a Child Wear a Dental Night Guard?

It is essential for you to acquire a dental night guard from a reputable dentist or online dental night guard lab. There are a variety of mouth guards that are available on the market and you may be tempted to acquire one, but you run the risk of compromising your child’s safety. While going to a dentist may require you to keep up with a specific amount of cost, you can guarantee that your child will be able to use a well fitted dental night guard that addresses all of his / her needs and preferences.