Teeth Grinding & Headaches

Part of human tooth and jaw function involves grinding and mashing food so that it’s easier to swallow and digest, but when teeth grind against each other during sleep, it can lead to both dental and whole-body health issues.
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What Is Teeth Grinding?

The surfaces of the teeth are rough so that they can efficiently grind food when a person chews. However, grinding the teeth when an individual is not eating anything can place unnecessary stress on the jaws and teeth. The repeated back and forth grinding motion can wear down the surfaces of a person’s teeth, which can result in the need for dental intervention.
Orthopedic TMJ Jaw Stability
Part of human tooth and jaw function involves grinding and mashing food so that it’s easier to swallow and digest, but when teeth commonly grind against each other during sleep, it can lead to both dental and whole-body health issues. Aside from wearing down the tooth enamel, grinding the teeth can cause or contribute to further health complications.

Teeth grinding is often not done intentionally. Some individuals grind their teeth without knowing it as a stress response. Other times, individuals may be unable to prevent teeth grinding due to crooked teeth and an abnormal bite pattern.

Additionally, teeth grinding may occur in conjunction with other orofacial disorders, like sleep apnea.

Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
Because teeth grinding typically occurs when an individual is asleep, it may go unnoticed for months or even years. However, certain symptoms are indicative of teeth grinding, so if you or a family member experience the following health issues, unconscious teeth grinding may be the underlying cause:

  • Frequent headaches
  • Temporomandibular joint pain or TMJ disorders
  • Sleep breathing disorders (sleep apnea for example)
  • Earaches
  • Cracked teeth
  • Worn teeth
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Poor sleep quality

Often, people do not consider that orofacial issues may be responsible for the disorders and conditions they’re experiencing, but once our dental professionals at Dental Health by Herre begin treatment, patients are surprised at how quickly their health issues start to fade away.

Teeth Grinding and Headaches
One of the most common and unpleasant issues our office treats as a result of frequent teeth grinding is constant and intense headaches. Headaches are often the result of the nervous system’s reaction to the pressure brought on by grinding the teeth.

Additionally, headaches can be a side effect of serious nighttime breathing issues brought on by poor jaw alignment and positioning of the tongue. By experiencing breathing disturbances during sleep, individuals who grind their teeth frequently wake up feeling tired and experiencing early morning headaches.

Do I need Treatment?

Teeth grinding can be a serious problem when it comes to maintaining an individual’s oral health. In addition to causing headaches and the above-mentioned symptoms, teeth grinding can also wear down an individual’s teeth.

Worn teeth can interfere with chewing and swallowing, and can increase sensitivity in the teeth after the enamel has been worn away. Missing enamel weakens the teeth and in some cases, it can increase a person’s risk for having their teeth break.

Additionally, worn and/or broken teeth can leave roots exposed, which greatly increases the risk of developing infections and periodontal disease.

Due to the risks, it’s recommended that individuals who grind their teeth seek treatment as early as possible in order to protect the integrity of their teeth.

Holistic Treatment for Teeth Grinding

At Herre Holistic Dental KC, our oral healthcare professionals aim to improve the overall well-being of our patients by determining the cause of tooth grinding behaviors and correcting them.

Because oral health issues are directly related to problems with holistic health, we believe that treating oral health issues can reduce the risk of developing whole-body health conditions.

Simple treatment methods can often improve sleeping and breathing quality, allowing our patients to wake up feeling refreshed and maintain an ideal quality of life without the interruption of headaches and orofacial pain.

Dr. Tim Herre and Dr. Erica Ketchem are dedicated to providing exceptional dental care to patients of all ages and healthcare needs. Our friendly team strives to make patients feel welcome and our dentist and his team seek to educate patients about the choices that will impact their holistic health, as well as the treatment options available.

Schedule an Appointment

Herre Holistic Dental KC strives to improve the lives of our patients. If you’re one of many individuals who experience teeth grinding, or the side effects of teeth grinding, give us a call at 913-491-4466 or schedule an appointment.
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Amazing care!!! They were able to get me in when I couldn’t get in to see where my Family Dentist referred. That location referred me to Dental Health by Herre. Dr. Herre was extremely thorough and very concerned about my oral health. I would recommend this to anyone!!

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Tracy M.
Leawood, KS

Location

Herre Holistic Dental KC

11201 Nall Avenue
Suite 120
Leawood, KS 66211

Hours

Monday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday: 7:00am - 3:00pm
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