Why are our busy lives are making tooth wear an increasing issue?
As Principal Dentist at tooth, I see an ever increasing amount of patients presenting with tooth wear, and so do my team of amazing Dentists at tooth. This is where the surfaces of the teeth are wearing down and in some cases so badly that it exposes the dentine (the middle, softer part of the tooth). Whilst tooth wear can be caused by a variety of issues, the most common reason by far is grinding - also known as bruxism.
When does tooth grinding usually happen?
Tooth grinding usually happens at night when sleeping. It is literally as it sounds - the teeth in the upper jaw and lower jaw are grinding together, or clenching. This is wearing out the top surfaces of the teeth (occlusal surfaces) in a way that normal ‘wear and tear’ like eating wouldn’t.
Why is teeth grinding and tooth wear so common?
My dental practice, tooth, is located in the centre of London - in Waterloo. Waterloo is a busy area, full of commuters and busy residents - always seemingly rushing from one place to the next and typically working hard in high stress jobs. But this isn’t a phenomenon unique to Waterloo, Zone 1, or indeed to just London.
It’s a growing concern, particularly in large cities it seems, as people struggle to find a good work life balance and increasingly bring their work home with them, as well as the other pressures and stresses of daily life. And it’s these pressures that make it harder for all of us to relax when at home. This stressful state - albeit sometimes not immediately noticeable, is the main cause of teeth grinding, which is the main cause of tooth wear.
What can be done to protect your teeth from grinding (Bruxism)?
My patients always want to know what can be done to stop grinding (Bruxism). Unfortunately one potential cure is the hardest one to achieve: de-stress. But we all have bills to pay and very very few of us will ever have the luxury of quitting work early and being full time relaxers! So, fortunately there are other solutions.
What are the solutions to tackle tooth wear and teeth grinding?
The most common prescribed treatment to protect teeth from further tooth wear/tooth grinding is a nightguard. These are the simplest and most effective solution.
You only need one (for example for your lower teeth or upper teeth) to protect both arches - which makes it more comfortable and also much cheaper, and you simply place it over your teeth when you go to bed and remove it in the morning (be sure to keep it clean though!). It may take a short while to get used to sleeping with a nightguard in, but most patients get used to it very quickly.
The good news is that the process for nightguards is very quick and easy, and not expensive either. After your Dental Check Up/Exam or New Patient Exam, we would book you in for a nightguard scan or nightguard impressions.
We then send these to our dental lab and they will return your custom, perfectly fitting nightguard. This usually takes around two weeks only. We then book you in for a nightguard fit appointment where we make sure that the nightguard fits comfortably and adjust if needed, then away you go!
How much does a dental nightguard cost?
The cost of a dental nightguard is just £170 for a standard (soft) nightguard, which is all that most people require. We do hard nightguards too at an additional cost, just in case your grinding is too much for a soft nightguard.
Can anti-wrinkle treatments be used to treat Bruxism/tooth grinding?
Another solution for tooth grinding is through the use of anti-wrinkle treatments. Although this sounds an unlikely solution it is widely researched and widely used. The anti-wrinkle injections are muscle relaxants, and relaxing muscles in the jaw can reduce the intensity of grinding and clenching - two key causes for tooth wear. As tooth’s Lead Facial Aesthetics provider, I regularly administer anti-wrinkle injections for Bruxism with great results. This treatment may not be for everyone and we would never consider it until we have looked at the cause of the issue and assessed the best course or courses of treatments.
So, the good news is that although tooth wear isn’t reversible, it is manageable and you are able to stop it from getting worse if you act in time. If you notice you are clenching, grinding or notice you have tooth wear, please just get in touch to book a check up.
How do I book for a dental nightguard?
You can book your a New Patient Exam at tooth (only £45) or a recall Check Up/Exam if you an existing patient, simply by pressing the button below or by whatsapping us.
Love Anna x