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Is Clenching More Dangerous that Grinding Your Teeth?

Posted on 10/19/2020 by Janice K. Pliszczak, DDS

While both clenching and grinding the teeth describe a dental condition known as bruxism, one activity is not worse than the other. Each activity can do its fair share of damage. Therefore, clenching and grinding can cause legal amounts of damage and problems.

How Clenching Can Hurt the Gums and Teeth

You may clench and grind your teeth while sleeping. However, you may clench your teeth unwittingly during the day. While grinding, as the name suggests, grinds down the teeth, clenching causes less wear but often more pain. When defined, clenching is basically holding the teeth unnaturally together and tightening the muscles in the jaw. If you do this repeatedly, you will suffer excessive muscular soreness and pain. You can also cause damage to the joint in your jaw. Clenching can exacerbate TMJ/TMD symptoms as well as cause them over time.

How Grinding Affects the Gums and Teeth

On the other hand, grinding impacts the enamel of the teeth more often and has a more pronounced effect on dental work, including fillings, bridges, dentures, and similar restorations. Often, when grinding regularly occurs, replacements need to be made. We often recommend that bruxism patients wear a mouth guard when they sleep. Reducing the amount of caffeine, you consume can help too. Whatever worsens the stress in your life should be removed from your daily activities.

Do you have a problem with clenching and grinding your teeth? Maybe you suspect you have the condition. If so, you should contact us immediately. The sooner your address the problem, the sooner you can improve your oral health and overall well-being. Call us now for an appointment for a consultation, professional cleaning, and exam. We will take a look at your teeth and learn more about the type of schedule you follow. That way, we can diagnose the condition and make recommendations with respect to dental solutions and care.

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