Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Teeth grinding is not easy to identify as it usually occurs when you are asleep. A common sign may be waking up with sore jaws and teeth. Your dentist may have mentioned that you may be suffering from teeth grinding or bruxism. Dental professionals can identify bruxism due to the condition of your teeth, enlarged facial muscles, jaw joints that click or pop and by certain toothaches that may be present. Teeth grinding usually occurs at night but is also possible during the day in some individuals. Daytime bruxism is also known as clenching.

Symptoms

Teeth grinding can have some serious adverse symptoms such as:

• Headaches

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort (Jaw Joint)

• Muscle aches

• Facial muscle enlargement

• Ear pain

• Shoulder and neck stiffness

• Sleep disorders

Causes

Although the exact cause of teeth grinding is unknown there are many factors that can aggravate and can be the ultimate cause of teeth grinding. Caffeine, Alcohol and smoking habits are some known contributing factors. Mental factors that are not always easily distinguishable such as stress, anxiety and depression are also contributing factors to teeth grinding. Sleep apnea is also a cause of teeth grinding. Lack of treatment for bruxism can cause wear and damage to teeth, make teeth more prone to cavities and may even cause gum recession.

Treatment for Teeth Grinding

It's very important to find the underlying cause of the teeth grinding in order to find the appropriate treatment. Changing your lifestyle and sleeping patterns are the most essential treatments. Small changes such as reducing caffeine and alcohol intake as well as quitting smoking can have drastic improvements in your grinding habits.

Your dentist may also advise you to get a custom night guard made for your teeth. Custom night guards help prevent damage to teeth and are designed to fit comfortably in your mouth. Custom night guards are made from hard plastic in a laboratory and usually fit the pot or bottom arch of teeth in your mouth. A digital scan or impression is sent to the laboratory so the night guard can be designed to fit in your mouth comfortably. 

Custom night guards are the best possible tool to reduce the effects of bruxism especially night time teeth grinding. You should visit your dentist to ask if a custom night guard is best for you. Dentists at Kontour Dental Care can help you determine if a custom night guard can help you with your teeth grinding issues, call to book a consultation.