4 JAW-RELATED ISSUES THAT CAN CAUSE DENTAL PROBLEMS

Since your jaw houses your teeth, you probably won't be surprised to learn that jaw issues can affect dental health. A well-aligned, strong, healthy jaw is important for maintaining optimal health in your oral cavity. Here are four jaw-related issues that can cause dental health problems.

1. Bruxism

Anxiety, depression, and other similar mental health issues may contribute to or even cause bruxism (the medical term for grinding your teeth at night). However, many physical issues can also be at the root of this problem. For instance, bruxism can occur alongside of (and perhaps because of) another jaw issue such as misalignment or sleep apnea.

But whether your bruxism stands alone or whether it's just coming along for the ride, you shouldn't take it lightly. Grinding your teeth while asleep can place much greater pressure on them than normal jaw activities such as chewing. Because of this, bruxism has the ability to cause major damage to your teeth.

Enamel wear may be the first symptom, but bruxism can also cause cracked, chipped, or broken teeth. Over time, grinding your teeth may even cause abfraction (where you lose tooth tissue near the gumline) or gum recession. Receding gums expose the root tissue of your teeth (which is very vulnerable to cavities) and potentially even cause eventual loosening of teeth.

2. Bite Misalignment

Some people have a misaligned bite just because their permanent teeth don't line up quite right or because their face is just built with a slightly receding lower jaw. Others may have a good bite naturally, but may develop a misalignment if a crown or filling sticks up a little too far and prevents the teeth from resting together in their usual position.

Either way, a misalignment can cause all kinds of problems. The teeth that stick up further may lose more enamel faster, leading to issues such as cracked teeth. And in some cases, a misalignment may contribute to issues such as bruxism.

3. TMJD

TMJD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (sometimes called TMJ Syndrome). The Temporomandibular joint is the hinge on each side of your face (in front of your ears) from which your lower jaw hangs. If the TMJ becomes injured or stressed, TMJD may manifest with symptoms such as pain, difficulty opening and closing the jaw, and odd sounds from the joint.

Some potential causes of TMJD include injury, too much tension held in the jaw, jaw misalignment, musculoskeletal issues that affect the joints (such as arthritis), and more. Since toothache-like pain and difficulty opening your jaw enough to brush your teeth can result from issues in this joint, you should talk to your dentist if you suspect TMJD.

4. Sleep Apnea

Although sleep apnea is considered a sleep disturbance rather than strictly a jaw problem, it can cause issues with your jaw and dental health as well. For instance, sleep apnea can be associated with bruxism; if you have sleep apnea, you have a 25% chance of having bruxism also.

In addition, sleep apnea may cause you to breathe through your mouth while sleeping, which allows your mouth to dry out and could mean you get more cavities. That's because the saliva on your teeth has a protective effect, and letting it dry out for hours while you sleep can leave your teeth defenseless against bacterial activity during the night.

Sleep apnea can even be associated with TMJ problems in some cases.

These four issues may not be strictly dental issues, but they can all affect your jaw and your dental health in multiple ways. If you suspect you may have bite issues, jaw tension issues that could be related to bruxism, or one of the other issues outlined here, talk to your dentist about it.

Contact the office of Bradley Piotrowski, DDS, MSD, LLC today if you'd like to make an appointment. Whether you're concerned about receding gums, have an implant that's throwing off your bite, or have some other issue, we can help you get to the bottom of it and find the best treatment.