Can Clenching Your Teeth Cause Tooth Loss? Posted on 10/15/2016 by Sundberg Office Clenching your teeth is relatively common when people are trying really hard to focus on something or they are going through an inordinate amount of stress. The problem is that clenching has the potential to cause a lot of damage to your teeth. Not only can it leave your teeth worn down to where the nerve could be exposed to everything you eat, drink, or breathe in, but it can also leave your teeth in complete disrepair.
The Damage Clenching Can Cause to Your Teeth
One of the most common problems people experience after clenching regularly for quite some time is a hairline cracking of the teeth. Those hairline cracks typically do not result in pain, and rarely are they even noticed by the person that is clenching their teeth. However, they can progressively get worse. The more you clench your teeth, the longer those cracks can become, and eventually, your one small crack could become a complete tooth fracture. Once your tooth becomes fractured, it may not be able to be saved depending on how it broke. If some of the top of your tooth broke, a crown may be able to save the tooth, but if your fracture went from the chewing surface to the root and is completely through the tooth, the tooth must then be extracted. Clenching your teeth may not seem like any big deal at first, but it can quickly become a problem if left unnoticed or untreated for too long. Take the time to go in and see your dentist if you notice that you are clenching your teeth every now and again. It is much easier for your dentist to watch your teeth for damage if they know you are doing something, than it is for them to try and go back in and repair the damage after it has already happened. Please contact us if you have any questions about clenching your teeth.
