Teeth Grinding & Clenching
Grinding is often the body's response to something else.
Many people are surprised when we tell them they clench or grind their teeth.
Some have never noticed it. Others have been told they grind, but never understood why.
To us, clenching and grinding are not simply habits.
They are often the body's response to something else.
Our goal is to understand why.
Why Do People Clench?
Clenching and grinding can have many contributing factors.
For some people, it is associated with stress. For others, it may occur as the brain attempts to protect the airway during sleep.
It may also be influenced by jaw instability, changes in the bite, trauma, sleep disorders, or several factors working together.
Every patient is different.
What Happens to the Teeth?
The jaw muscles are among the strongest muscles in the body.
When they repeatedly generate excessive force, the teeth absorb that load.
Over time, teeth may:
- Wear down
- Chip or fracture
- Become sensitive
- Develop cracks
- Develop abfraction lesions near the gumline as repeated bending forces concentrate stress in the tooth
The teeth are often telling us that they have been under more force than they were designed to handle.
Why Tooth Wear Matters
As teeth wear, they become shorter.
Shorter teeth provide less support for the jaw.
With less support, the jaw may sit slightly higher and farther back, increasing strain on the jaw joints and surrounding muscles.
The body may respond by working even harder to stabilize the jaw.
What began as one adaptation may gradually contribute to another.
Our Approach
Simply protecting the teeth is sometimes enough. Sometimes it is not.
Our evaluation looks beyond the worn teeth themselves.
We try to understand why the excessive forces developed in the first place.
Depending on the individual, treatment may include improving jaw support with an oral appliance, reducing unnecessary muscular strain through head and neck decompression, improving breathing during sleep, orthodontic treatment, myofunctional therapy, or collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
The goal is not only to protect the teeth.
It is to reduce the forces that are damaging them.
Our Goal
Your teeth often provide important clues about how your head and neck have been functioning for years.
By understanding those clues, we can develop a treatment plan that protects your teeth while supporting healthier jaw function.
Your teeth are not just for chewing. They are also part of the support system for your jaw.