Make It Stop! Can Invisalign Help Fix Teeth Grinding?

Birds chirping leaves in the wind, laughter, and beautiful music: the world is full of amazing sounds but it also supplies horrible sounds like nails on a chalkboard, opening an old ironing board, or scraping your shoes on a newly polished basketball court. Grinding your teeth is another sound that bothers many people, but this sound can also mean your smile and long-term health are at risk. In this post, you’ll learn why grinding is such a big deal, the causes of this habit, and solutions  like Invisalign clear aligners for ending it.

Why Is Grinding Bad for Your Teeth?

In addition to creating a grating sound for those around you, grinding your teeth damages the protective layer of enamel. Although this material is stronger than any other in your body, pressing and moving your teeth places pressure that enamel is not designed to withstand. In mild cases, tiny chips or cracks can develop into significant ones without treatment or addressing the grinding action itself. In fact, stress fractures from this coping habit can cause ultimate tooth loss and pain.

What Can Cause Teeth Grinding?

Grinding or clenching your teeth can come from several potential sources, including stress or anxiety. In fact, you may not even realize you have these habits, especially if they show up predominantly while you sleep!

Other times, your upper and lower teeth may not match up perfectly, which can lead to them hitting each other incorrectly when you bite or chew your food. In this case, you can do more harm than simply chip or crack a tooth; you can also have some trouble breaking down your food for digestion into small enough pieces. If indigestible, the foods will not release their full amount of nutrients to your body.

Can Invisalign Help with Teeth Grinding?

Primarily, teeth grinding is addressed with an oral appliance, called a nightguard, that you must wear while you sleep. The nightguard simultaneously releases tension in the jaw joint as well as separates your teeth from rubbing against others, reducing the damage and strain you feel in the joint as well as in your dentition.

If the root cause happens to be that you have an uneven bite, Invisalign clear aligners can correct the issue by shifting teeth where they can more comfortably line up. Although these plastic trays are temporary and rather thin, you should only wear each set for about 2 weeks before transitioning to the next ones. As a result, you likely won’t wear your aligners long enough to see a substantial impact on the aligners while protecting your teeth from additional damage. When Invisalign treatment ends, your teeth may be more healthily lined up and even, especially because the retainer can double as an oral appliance to buffer your smile if you continue to clench or grind your teeth.

In the end, Invisalign may not completely fix all teeth grinding cases, but in some situations, it can make a huge difference in having every tooth well positioned for a safe, longer-lasting smile!

About the Practice

Amherst Dental Group is well equipped to help patients prevent further harm to their smiles and health. For instance, several of our highly trained dentists can provide nightguards, Invisalign, and other services to get ahead of damage to your smile from teeth grinding and other risks. If you are interested in our services and want to stop grinding your teeth, just contact us online or give our Williamsville office a call at 716-689-8882 to schedule an appointment, and then stick to the treatment plan!