Anyone experience with teeth grinding?

henke

Hi
My dentist has told me my teeth are showing signs of been worn down from grinding and asked was I aware of myself grinding which I am not.
He said perhaps it is happening in my sleep and suggested a bite guard which isn't that cheap, but I am not so sure I am grinding in my sleep I have never been aware of that or had any jaw pain etc. I don't want to purchase if it is not happening in my sleep.
Has anyone any recommendation on anyway to diagnose if it happening when I sleep? Also, from looking at the teeth myself it appears to show only wear on the bottom middle teeth I don't notice anything on the top ones. Is that expected?
Thanks.

uck51js9zml2yt

i wear a bite guard for grinding. Mine cost me 250 and i miss it when i dont wear it.

henke

Emilee Little Weeknight wrote: »

i wear a bite guard for grinding. Mine cost me 250 and i miss it when i dont wear it.

Had you wear on both teeth? We're you aware of of yourself doing it prior to visiting a dentist?

Big_G

From my experience and several studies, a significant proportion of people who grind are unaware that they are doing so, particularly during sleep.

henke

Is it normal the bottom teeth would show more obvious visual signs of wear?

taylor3

Exactly twelve months ago I started wearing a night splint, as my dentist called it. I had gone to her as a back tooth has become quite sensitive. She examined the tooth x-rayed etc; but found no obvious problem with it. Now what she did say was she reckoned I was grinding my teeth at night. I am aware two of my sister's that grind so she suggested I get fitted for a mouth guard. It cost me 60euros but it's a plastic/silicone type. My sister's one was much more expensive and feels like glass in that it's hard and clear like glass. First week I wore mine it was weird but now I can't sleep without it.

uck51js9zml2yt

Generally the softer ones cause you to grind more.

The hard ones are made from a resin..I'm sure the dentists here will clarify the material:D

henke

If I am grinding in my sleep it's definitely the answer but I'm still skeptical whether I am. I am breathing through my nose when I settle to sleep anyway.

uck51js9zml2yt

henke wrote: »

If I am grinding in my sleep it's definitely the answer but I'm still skeptical whether I am. I am breathing through my nose when I settle to sleep anyway.

The way you breath has no bearing on grinding. I wasn't aware of the grinding but my dentist was!

Wafflepie

I didn't know I grind my teeth when I sleep, I could see it after it was mentioned to me but not so much something I noticed myself, my dentist insisted I got a night guard. It was expensive, I think it was 250e or something but like other people have posted, I can't sleep without mine now. And after a few years of having it, there's actually chunks out of it from grinding. You can literally see the scratch marks of my teeth. I personally would recommend it.

RabbleRouser2k

I had no idea I was grinding my teeth either, tho I know a few of mine did damage over time-i assumed it was down to a number of reasons. So anyways, I was switching dentists for the 4th time-work related moving and so ons, as well as getting a price comparison on veneers I needed ( I saved about 600 euros). Anyways, besides this dentist doing a number of checks, he noticed I might be grinding my teeth. I bought a mouthguard in a sports shop, which was a couple of euros.

But others I know were fitted for a silicone guard. It depends on the severity of the grinding, tbh. And certain things like chewing gum can make it worse (something like your brain still remembering the chewing action while you sleep).
Also, I know some who were fitted for veneers and broke em with their grinding. That was without a mouth guard tho.

La_Gordy

Hey op, I'm a teeth grinder too and can't recommend enough getting a mouth guard. My dentist in Lucan did my fitted guard for about 100e within the last 3 years and they last a long time. Actually all mine have lasted till I lost them

As for identifying if that's the root cause, I can say I did with headaches which is what lead me to the dentist but they're not a definite symptom. The teeth being worn down though does sound like grinding is a potential culprit.