Our Location:
Nashua Smile Makers
Nashua, NH 03060

Find answers and other helpful dental topics in our digital library.
Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- August (5)
- Talk With Your Dentist About Antibiotic Therapy Before Implant Surgery
- Finding the Perfect Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment for You
- Reasons You Should Consider Veneers
- Listen to Ellen DeGeneres: Don't Think You Can Get Away Without Flossing!
- Your 'Toothache' Might Signal a Problem Other Than in Your Mouth
- March (5)
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- Are You Keeping Good Oral Hygiene Habits?
- Make Your Baby as Comfortable as Possible During Teething
- Too Old to Straighten Your Smile? Not If You're Like These A-List Celebrities
- You Don't Have to Live With Uncomfortable Cracked Mouth Corners
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2011
Tags
- pediatric dentistry (15)
- celebrity smiles (79)
- orthodontics (10)
- palatal expanders (2)
- braces (8)
- veneers (10)
- prepless veneers (1)
- nightguard (1)
- grinding teeth (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental injury (8)
- porcelain veneers (8)
- snoring (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- oral health (26)
- Oral Hygiene (31)
- Dentist (2)
- Nashua (3)
- diabetes (1)
- sealants (3)
- herbal remedy (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (21)
- missing tooth (1)
- replacing teeth (1)
- dental implant (7)
- nutrition (5)
- bridge (1)
- tooth pain (4)
- root canal treatment (5)
- dental implants (19)
- osteoporosis (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- crown (1)
- fluoride (3)
- social media (1)
- gum disease (11)
- laser dentistry (1)
- mouthguards (4)
- dental injuries (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- Cosmetic Dentist (1)
- mouthrinse (1)
- root resorption (1)
- root canal (2)
- TMD (1)
- TMJ (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- smile makeover (2)
- Sugar (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- TADs (1)
- wisdom teeth (7)
- gummy smile (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- dentures (4)
- chipped teeth (1)
- Flossing (2)
- orthodontic treatment (19)
- tooth grinding (1)
- frenectomy (1)
- crowns (4)
- oral cancer (4)
- tobacco (1)
- dental crowns (3)
- restorative dentistry (4)
- tooth decay (5)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- Family Dentist (3)
- smoking (3)
- seniors (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- palatal expander (1)
- teeth whitening (4)
- geographic tongue (1)
- bone grafting (3)
- bad breath (2)
- clear aligners (2)
- chipped tooth (3)
- x-rays (2)
- bonding (1)
- headgear (2)
- thumb sucking (1)
- adult braces (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- medicine (1)
- bone loss (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- Dental Bonding (1)
- Dental Repair (1)
- teething (3)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- periodontal disease (2)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- x-ray (1)
- dental sealants (1)
- toothache (3)
- eating disorder (1)
- retainer (1)
- Family Dentistry (2)
- loose tooth (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- Filling (1)
- removable partial denture (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- Implants (1)
- Dental Cavity (1)
- mouth sore (1)
- retainers (3)
- Preventive Dentistry (1)
Categories:

Sure, it’s big news when celebs tweet selfies from the dental office… if you’re still living in the 20th century. But in Hollywood today, it’s harder to say who hasn’t posted snaps of themselves in the dentist’s chair than who has. Yet the pictures recently uploaded to Twitter by Mark Salling, the actor and singer who regularly appears as Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the popular TV series Glee, made us sit up and take notice.
“Getting my chipped tooth fixed. Also, apparently, I’m a big grinder,” read the caption. The photo showed a set of upper front teeth with visible chips on the biting surface. What’s so special about this seemingly mundane tweet? It’s a great way of bringing attention to a relatively common, but often overlooked problem: teeth clenching and grinding, also called bruxism.
Although bruxism is a habit that affects scores of people, many don’t even realize they have it. That’s because the condition may only become active at night. When the teeth are unconsciously ground together, the forces they produce can wear down the enamel, cause chipping or damage to teeth or dental work (such as veneers or fillings), or even loosen a tooth! While it’s common in children under 11 years old, in adults it can be a cause for concern.
Sometimes, mouth pain, soreness and visible damage alert individuals to their grinding habits; other times, a dental professional will notice the evidence of bruxism during an exam or cleaning: tooth sensitivity and telltale wear and tear on the chewing surfaces. Either way, it’s time to act.
Bruxism is most often caused by stress, which can negatively impact the body in many ways. It may also result from bite problems, the overuse of stimulating substances (caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs), and as a side effect of certain medications. Sometimes, simply becoming aware of the habit can help a person get it under control. Common methods of stress reduction include exercise, meditation, a warm bath or a quiet period before bedtime; these can be tried while we monitor the situation to see if the problem is going away.
If stress reduction alone doesn’t do the trick, several other methods can be effective. When bruxism is caused by a minor bite problem, we can sometimes do a minor “bite adjustment” in the office. This involves removing a tiny bit of enamel from an individual tooth that is out of position, bringing it in line with the others. If it’s a more serious malocclusion, orthodontic appliances or other procedures may be recommended.
When grinding is severe enough to damage teeth or dental work, we may also recommend a custom-made night guard (occlusal guard), which you put in your mouth at bedtime. Comfortable and secure, this appliance prevents your teeth from being damaged by contacting each other, and protects your jaw joints from stresses due to excessive grinding forces.
Whether or not you have to smile for a living, teeth grinding can be a big problem. If you would like more information about this condition, call our office to schedule a consultation for a consultation.