Tooth grinding keeping you up at night?

Tooth grinding, which is also called bruxism, can cause serious problems with your jaw and teeth. It can also be painful. If you’re worried about teeth grinding or you’re having pain in your jaw call Dr. Lang at Great Miami Dental today. Let’s set up a complimentary consultation to see how Dr. Lang can help you stop grinding your teeth!

In a recent survey the American Dental Association found that more than 60% of dentists reported an increase in the number of people coming in with symptoms of bruxism, or tooth grinding. Stress can be a major cause of bruxism and more people than ever are stressed out these days. If you think you might be grinding your teeth at night read on, and then call to make an appointment to have Dr. Lang examine you. If you are grinding your teeth there are remedies available to help you.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is the clinical name for tooth-grinding. It’s estimated that as much as 20% of adults experience bruxism either temporarily or chronically during their lives. Grinding your teeth at night or clenching your jaw while you sleep can cause some serious problems with your jaw and your teeth. That’s why it’s important to get it taken care of if you think that you’re experiencing it.

What causes bruxism?

There are several different factors that could be causing bruxism. The most common causes of bruxism include:

Stress And Anxiety

By far the most common cause of bruxism is stress. When people can’t relax at night because they are suffering from stress and anxiety they can clench their jaws which in turn causes teeth grinding. And since just about everyone is under a lot of stress these days, it’s very common for people who are stressed and anxious to not be able to relax at night.

Jaw Misalignment

If your jaw is misaligned or if your teeth don’t line up the way they should, that can cause the teeth to grind together because they don’t fit correctly. Orthodontic treatment can eliminate the problem by making your teeth and your jaw align the way they’re supposed to.

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders can also cause bruxism. People who have chronic sleep disorders often have bruxism as a result of their struggles to sleep soundly at night.

Managing stress and having a relaxing bedtime routine will do wonders for your overall health as well as helping to decrease the damage to your teeth and jaws from bruxism.

Symptoms of Bruxism

So how can you tell if you have bruxism? The most common symptom of bruxism is pain in your jaw when you wake up. If you also experience pain when you chew or when you rub your jaw those symptoms can also be from bruxism. Some of the other common symptoms of bruxism are:

  • Headaches
  • Jaw pain
  • Tooth pain
  • Fatigue
  • Loose teeth
  • Broken teeth

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t right. So if you wake up and your jaw is tender or painful, don’t wait for it to go away. Call us to make an appointment to get a checkup.

The Risks Of Bruxism

It might seem like grinding your teeth isn’t really that big of a deal. But over time constantly grinding your teeth at night can wear down your teeth. It can cause cracks in your teeth or cause them to become loose. And it can also cause you to have jaw pain and headaches. If the problem isn’t addressed you may end up eventually needing implants or other major dental work.

How To Get Relief From Bruxism

There are several different ways that you can get relief from bruxism. One of the best ways to stop bruxism is to get a custom-made occlusal guard for your jaw that you can wear while you sleep. This custom dental appliance offers the best relief from bruxism in most cases and can help prevent serious dental damage from bruxism. Call our office today if you want to learn more about a custom-made appliance to stop bruxism. Some other popular ways to get relief from bruxism include:

Stress Management

The best way to manage bruxism is to lower your stress levels. When you can manage your stress more effectively there is less chance that you will be clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth at night. Some things that you can try to manage your stress include exercise and meditation.

Medication

Muscle relaxers, stress and anxiety medication, and several other types of medications may be a good option if you are unable to eliminate stress or manage your stress effectively.

Better Sleep Hygiene

Investing in a better mattress, high-quality pillows, and other items that will help you sleep better can help stop bruxism. You also should have a fixed bedtime and maintain a nighttime routine that minimizes stress and helps you fall asleep.

Less Screentime

When you are hunched over a screen your neck juts forward and can push your jaw and head out of alignment … not to mention that screentime can really interfere with your quality of sleep. Turn off all screens at least an hour before you want to go to sleep and never use your phone or tablet in bed.

Nightguard

A nightguard can protect your teeth from grinding and clenching while you sleep. It will keep you from seriously damaging your teeth and alleviate pain from the pressure of grinding.

But before you try any of these methods to get rid of bruxism talk to Dr. Lang about bruxism and what the best method of relief for you might be. Call us today.