Do you wake up with jaw pains and headaches? Or perhaps you’ve noticed that your back teeth are flattened when brushing teeth and flossing? If so, you could have bruxism. Bruxism is a common disorder where you grind your teeth or clench your jaw while asleep (sleep bruxism) or awake (awake bruxism). Sleep bruxism is the most common.
Since bruxism happens unconsciously, you might not know you have the condition until the symptoms appear. While bruxism isn’t life-threatening, it can lead to serious side effects. Common side effects of teeth grinding include:
If you have or suspect you have bruxism, see a dentist for professional diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. They will examine your teeth, bite alignment, and mouth to determine whether you have bruxism. Untreated teeth grinding can increase your risk of long-term complications such as:
Below are common tips you can use to manage teeth grinding and clenching:
For some people, bruxism may be linked to underlying issues like stress, depression, weight loss, and anxiety. In such cases, lifestyle techniques such as meditation, yoga, talk therapy, and exercise manage these conditions and eliminate teeth grinding. These techniques are also beneficial for your overall well-being.
Certain lifestyle habits such as tobacco use, drug abuse, alcohol use, and high caffeine are linked to teeth grinding and clenching. Avoiding or limiting these substances can reduce or stop the problem of bruxism.
If you have mild to moderate sleep bruxism, your dentist might recommend wearing a night guard. A night guard is also used for a number of sleep-related disorders like sleep apnea and snoring. The guard prevents the upper and the lower teeth from grinding against each other while sleeping. While they won’t cure bruxism, they preserve the health of your teeth and reduce other symptoms of bruxism
When considering a night guard, be sure to use a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist. It’s designed according to your mouth structure, offering maximum protection, comfort, and durability. While you can opt for cheaper over-the-counter night guards, they might be bulky and ill-fitting, which can worsen your condition and cause breathing problems.
The build-up of stress in your jaw can trigger you to grind your teeth or clench your jaw. Fortunately, you can try some tongue and jaw exercises to help relax and maintain the proper position of your jaw and facial muscles. You can consult a physical therapist to determine which exercises suit you better. In the meantime, you can try massaging your jaw to loosen up the muscles.
Sometimes tooth grinding might be caused by orthodontic problems like a poor bite, crooked teeth, and overcrowding. Your dentist might recommend orthodontic treatments like traditional braces and Invisalign to align your bite and prevent teeth grinding and clenching.
Sometimes teeth grinding and clenching can be a side effect of certain medications such as antidepressants. If that’s the case, you can consult your doctor about a different prescription. Similarly, bruxism can signify sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea. Addressing sleep apnea can help improve sleep bruxism. Treating medical conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can help manage bruxism.
Early treatment for teeth grinding and clenching is essential to prevent severe and long-term complications. If you suspect or have bruxism, visit a dentist or doctor near you for diagnosis and treatment. For more information about teeth grinding and clenching, contact KK Dental – North Brunswick to book your appointment today.
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