Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism

Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include: 

* Loud grinding sound at night wakes up sleep partner

*Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured, or chipped

*worn tooth enamel, dentin exposure

*Increased tooth sensitivity to temperature (hot & cold)

*Jaw pain or tightness in the jaw muscles

*Earache 

*Headache

*Chronic facial pain

Don't live with the pain, call our office today in order to get treatment. 

Causes of Bruxism

Bruxism can have a variety of causes. Physicians and dentists think that each patient may have a different cause that triggers bruxism. These are some of the possible causes:

i. Anxiety, stress or tension

ii. Suppressed anger or frustration

iii. Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type

iv. Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)

v. Sleep prolems

                                                                    vi. Side effects of medications (antidepressants) 

Anna Lee, D.D.S.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition that people clench their teeth during the day time or grind their teeth at night. 

Clenching occurs when the upper and lower teeth are held tightly together. Grinding occurs when upper and lower teeth slide back and forth over each other. 

Many people clench and grind their teeth from time to time and do not have any problems. 

Occasionally bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding) does not usually cause harm, but when the condition occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.

Treatment Options for Tooth Sensitivity

Treatment options for sensitive teeth vary depending on the cause of the sensitivity. 

Gum recession, periodontal disease, tooth decay, and tooth damage are dental problems that must be diagnosed and treated by the dentist. 

Recommended treatments can be fluoride varnishes or desensitizing medicament applied to the exposed root surfaces caused by gum recessions. Fluoride varnishes reduce sensitivity by sealing and penetrating dentinal tubles (dentin) and by blocking out external stimuli. 

Treatments for periodontal disease vary depending on the severity of the disease. It can be treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy or gum surgery. Treatments of tooth decay and tooth damage can be restorative fillings and crown restorations. 

Many people think that the harder they brush the cleaner their teeth feel. This is not true. Brushing too hard may cause enamel loss and exposes the dentinal tubles (dentin) and triggers sensitivity. Recommended treatment is to use soft-bristled toothbrushes and brush the teeth gently. 

Teeth grinding or teeth clenching also causes enamel loss. Recommended treatment is to consult with the dentist about an occlusal guard/splint. Wearing an occlusal guard may minimize tooth wear and enamel loss. 

Citrus Fruits, energy and sports drinks are highly acidic food and beverages. Treatment options are to reduce consumption, chew sugar-free gum and rinse the mouth with water after consumption of these foods and beverages. Recommendation is to stop using the whitening products for a few days. 

What Causes Sensitive Teeth

Some of the causes of sensitive teeth are:

- Gum Recession-gum tissue that surrounds the tooth wears away or pulls back and exposes the root of the tooth. Tooth sensitivity is usually the first sign of gum recession. You may also notice a tooth with a receding gum line looks longer than normal.

- Gum disease-bacterial inflammation of the gingival tissues the gum line may cause gum recession. The exposed root surface of the tooth is susceptible to tooth sensitivity triggered by hot or cold food and drinks. 

-Tooth Decay-deep cavity of the tooth exposes the nerves in the center of the tooth (dental pulp) and can contribute to sensitivity. 

- Cracked/Chipped Teeth- Dentinal tubles (dentin) can become exposed due to tooth damage from a chip or a crack of the tooth.

-Brushing too hard- this is common cause of sensitive teeth. Brushing too hard may cause enamel loss and exposes the dentinal tubles (dentin) to outside stimuli and triggers sensitivity.

-Teeth grinding or teeth clenching-enamel loss or worn down enamel is commonly caused by teeth grinding or clenching. The loss of enamel exposes the dentinal tubles to outside stimuli and triggers teeth sensitivity. 

-Acidic Food-regular consumption of foods with a high acidic content such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee, tea, and sports & energy drinks can cause enamel loss and trigger teeth sensitivity.

-Teeth whitening products-A small percentage of people who use the whitening products for teeth bleaching experience temporary teeth sensitivity due to irritation from the chemical in the whitening products.

-Recent dental procedures-teeth sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, tooth restorations (fillings), crown preparation and cementation. The sensitivity is temporary and should subside in a few days or weeks. 

Can teeth sensitivity be prevented?

Teeth sensitivity can be painful, and it can impact daily activities, such as eating, drinking, brushing teeth, or even breathing cold air. Teeth sensitivity can be triggered by hot or cold food and drinks. Some people describe the pain to be sharp, sudden, and shooting deep into the nerve endings of their teeth. 

Studies have shown that over 40 million Americans have teeth sensitivity. 

What are the causes? 

What are the treatments? 

Understanding the anatomy of the tooth may help to answer some of the questions. There are four major tissues that make up the tooth. They are: enamel, dentin, cementum, and dental pulp (nerves).

-Enamel is the most outer layer of the tooth. It is the part of the tooth you see when you open your mouth, talk and smile.


-Dentin is the layer of tissues underneath the enamel and cementum. Dentin contains a large number of pores or tubes called dentinal tubules. When they are exposed to the outside stimuli, such as the hot or cold food and drinks, they stimulate the nerve of the tooth and cause teeth sensitivity. 


-Cementum is the layer of tissues that cover the root of the tooth


-Dental pulp is the center of the tooth that is filled with blood vessels and nerves.   

Anna, Lee D.D.S.

What do we offer?

 Glendora General & Cosmetic Dentistry

We accept all Dental PPO Insurances to help you get all of your dental needs met. If you have any questions regarding your insurance carrier or benefits, please give us a call today. 

We are also accepting new patients and would love to have you and your family join our family today. 

If you have friends or family members who are looking for a new dentist Anna Lee, D.D.S. and team would love for you to visit or call today. 

626-335-5114

Common Dental Questions

Asked by Parents

Parents have questions about their child's dental care. Now you can get some of the most commonly asked questions answered by Anna Lee, DDS.

1. Why restore/spend money to fix the baby teeth with cavities when the permanent teeth are coming in soon?

Answer: Baby tooth decay will affect the health of the permanent tooth. Bacteria of untreated teeth may cause a higher risk of permanent teeth to develop cavities. 

2. What happens when the baby tooth is lost too early?

Answer: Baby teeth are like a space retainer for permanent teeth. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other permanent teeth to find room when they come in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded.

Parents play a critical role in the dental success for their children. Early detection of decay can help solve problems in your child's mouth before they become worse. 

Remember early diagnosis and regular dental check-ups will prevent oral health complications. Don't wait, call Anna Lee DDS, office today for a dental check-up.

Anna Lee, D.D.S

Preventing ECC/BBTD

In order to prevent ECC/BBTD: 

- Remove the bottle when baby falls asleep

- Put water in baby's bottle at nap/bed time

- Wipe off baby's teeth/gum with a damp washcloth at least twice a day and when the baby is done eathing

-Stick to a feeding schedule and limit between meal snacking 

- Try not to share saliva with the baby through common use of feeding utensils (spoons)

- Lift the child's lip to look for signs of decay

- Take the child to a CDA member dentist by age one

ECC/BBTD is an infectious and transmittable disease. The good news is that the disease is preventable. The American Academy of Pedodontics and the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that prevention of ECC begins in the prenatal and perinatal period. 

Anna Lee, D.D.S