Do you tend to grind or clench your teeth while you’re sleeping? While this might not seem like an urgent situation, bruxism can be detrimental to your oral health over time. Not only does this condition wear down your pearly whites, but it can also make you appear beyond your years. Keep reading to learn how teeth grinding can make you look older and how you can preserve your teeth for the long term!
Can Grinding Your Teeth Make You Appear Older?
People typically associate wrinkles with sun damage, smoking, or looking somewhat up there in age. It might surprise you then that creases in your face can also be caused by teeth grinding. The more frequently you clench or scrape your pearly whites, the higher the likelihood that your bite will collapse, resulting in premature wrinkles around your mouth. Although your facial muscle tone may lessen as you get older, the process can happen quicker in those suffering from bone or tooth loss. This can cause lengthening of the lips and facial sagging, resulting in a much older appearance.
How Can You Prevent Teeth Grinding?
While it’s natural for your muscles and skin elasticity to weaken over time, it doesn’t mean you have to settle with a collapsed bite due to a worn-down smile. Here are several important ways you can prevent the negative impact of teeth grinding:
- Wear a nightguard for bruxism: Some people tend to grind their teeth in their sleep, a condition known as bruxism. To avoid this issue, you should speak with your dentist about getting a custom-made nightguard to control the movement of your mouth. This can put a stop to the damage to your enamel as well as reduce the impact on your bite and facial appearance.
- Refrain from nail biting: Similar to teeth grinding, biting your fingernails can cause micro damage to your pearly whites. This can gradually wear down your enamel and lead to poor bite alignment, resulting in a more aged look.
- Choose smile-friendly foods: You’ll want to keep a diet that consists of meals that are vitamin-rich, nutrient-dense, and won’t cause further damage to your smile. Be sure to avoid hard and crunchy snacks, like almonds or nuts, and acidic or sugary foods, such as citrus fruits and dried fruits.
- Visit your dentist regularly: By seeing your dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months, they can remove plaque-causing bacteria and offer treatment to address your teeth grinding.
So, if you tend to grate or clench your smile, make sure to consult your dental team for help. They’ll be more than happy to assess your situation and determine the best way to preserve your oral health and a more youthful appearance!
About the Author
Dr. Tristan J. Parry earned his dental doctorate from The Ohio State University. He’s also pursued countless hours of continuing education to refine his skills and expertise. He provides a wide variety of high-quality and comprehensive services, including dental checkups/cleanings and nightguards for bruxism. If you’d like to schedule a consultation, visit his website or call 336-644-2770.