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It’s estimated that over 60 million Americans grind their teeth each night. Bruxism is a condition characterized by grinding, gnashing, or clenching teeth. You are more susceptible to grinding or clenching your teeth at night while you sleep and are completely unaware you’re doing it. This is known as sleep bruxism. It can be considered a type of sleep-related disorder and is usually accompanied by other sleep disorders, such as snoring.
Take a Bite out of Bruxism
Those who may suffer from some form of teeth grinding often wake up with jaw pain and/or headaches. Extreme cases of damaged teeth have been reported. Usually, until symptoms become more evident, most people are unaware that they’re grinding their teeth as they sleep.
There are a few common signs of bruxism which include:
- Jaw or facial pain
- Tight jaw muscles
- Dull headaches – mostly around your temple area
- Tooth sensitivity
- Fractured, chipped, or even loose teeth (these are in extreme cases)
Though there isn’t a known cause that causes bruxism, it’s been thought to be associated with physical or psychological causes. Here are a few things that can trigger bruxism:
- Stress, anger, tension, and anxiety
- Sleep apnea conditions
- Malocclusions
- Aggressive or hyperactive personality types
- Toothaches or earaches
Stress, age, smoking, and drinking are also things that can increase your risk of bruxism.
Don’t Wait!
If you think you’re suffering from any of the signs we listed above, don’t wait to contact your dental provider. Putting it off can lead to bigger problems down the road. It’s a great idea to write down possible conditions that could be causing your bruxism and any questions you may have to discuss with your doctor. Your dentist will most likely examine your oral health for signs of bruxism, which may include X-rays. From there, a corrective treatment plan can be discussed, and hopefully, it’s a simple fix, such as wearing a mouthguard at night to preserve your teeth!
