Are You a Teeth Grinder?

Dr Jaco Smith Explains Causes and Solutions

Are you known for grinding your teeth?  And perhaps you get teased about it?  While teeth grinding, or bruxism, may seem harmless – albeit annoying to those around you – a prolonged habit can have a long-term effect on your oral health and will actually damage your teeth. 

Dr Jaco Smith of The Dental Studio explains, “We all clench or grind our teeth from time to time, usually in times of stress of anxiety, but if it continues, it can misalign your bite, lead to crooked or fractured teeth, tooth loss and jaw problems”. 

Common signs of teeth grinding are waking with a dull, persistent headache, or a sore jaw.  The problem often occurs in our sleep and can easily become a habit.  If you have any concerns that you may be “a grinder” then you should check with your dentist, who may recommend a custom-fitted mouth guard to be worn at night to protect teeth.

To break the habit, Dr Jaco recommends avoiding food and drinks that contain caffeine, including colas, chocolate and coffee, as well as alcohol.  He says, “Train yourself not to clench your teeth by putting your the tip of your tongue between your teeth – this will help your jaw muscles relax,  Do not chew pencil or pen tops, and avoid chewing gum as this tenses the jaw.  If stress is the root cause of the problem, find ways to relax, such as yoga, exercise or seek help from a counsellor.”

If you ignore the problem over time your teeth may eventually be worn down to stumps and major dental work, such as bridges, crowns, root canals, implants or even dentures in later life will be needed.

Bruxism is common in children but they usually grow out of it.  It often occurs as baby teeth and permanent teeth come through, adapting to not having a pacifier, if the teeth are not alligned correctly, or pain from an earache for example.

About The Dental StudioThe Dental Studio is the only dental phobia certified practice in Dubai and was inducted into the Leading Dental Centres of the World in 2010.  Every visitor is treated with gentle care and attention, where treatment is shaped to suit the individual so that they leave with the best possible smile.

Every member of the dental team is an artist, dedicated to changing the face of dentistry.  They use the best dental materials, state of the art equipment and expert dental laboratory services to get the best possible results that will keep their clients smiling for longer.

The core team of award winning dentists include Dr Jaco Smith – a family and cosmetic dentist, Dr Caroline Pazdera - family dentist, Dr Ajay Juneja specialises in prosthodontics and aesthetic dentistry, Dr Eyass Jebreen – specialist periodontist, Dr Siju Jacob – specialist endodontist, Dr Firas Hamzeh – specialist orthodontist and Joanne Flower - dental hygienist.

Full range of services include:
Dental care for children Orthodontic braces
Crowns, bridges and fillings Inlays and onlays
Periodontics / gum sculpting
Endodontics / root canal
Smile makeovers & cosmetics
Veneers
Whitening
Laser dentistry
Oral cancer screening
Fresh breath clinic

The Dental Studio is located on Umm Al Sheif Road in Jumeirah 3 Dubai, For appointments, telephone 04 395 5095.

Opening Times: 08.30 – 17.30 daily, 08.30 – 20.00 on Wednesday, closed on Friday

For further information please contact:
Claudie Strydom Angela N Summers
Practice Manager Public Relations Consultant
The Dental Studio
Umm Al Sheif Road, Umm Suqueim
Dubai
Tel 04 395 5095 Tel 050 552 4991
Email info@thedentalstudio.ae Email angela11@eim.ae
www.thedentalstudio.ae