30 Aug What Should You Do If You Grind Your Teeth?

There are many dental concerns that people face, from cavities to missing teeth, but one of the most common and misunderstood of them all is a condition known as bruxism or teeth grinding. Nearly one in three people suffer from this condition and it can impact people of all ages. Most people will have minor and occasional instances of teeth grinding at some point in their lives and the condition is not considered severe until it happens most nights for long periods of time. Severe teeth grinding can cause headaches, migraines, jaw pain, tooth damage, TMJ/TMD, and more! Teeth grinding can happen at any time but severe grinding that causes the most damage usually it occurs at night during sleep, which makes it even more of a risk for oral problems since most people do not know they suffer from bruxism until symptoms start to flare up.

Common Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

Excessive teeth grinding usually most often is diagnosed by a dental expert when excessive wear and tear is noted on the teeth, especially on the back molars.  Other signs and symptoms of teeth grinding that you need to be on the lookout for can include:

• Your partner waking up due to the noise you make while you are grinding your teeth
• Teeth become sore, chipped, broken, cracked, worn, or damaged in some way
• Tooth enamel shows wear in an odd places and at an abnormal rate
• Teeth suddenly are more sensitive than they used to be to temperature extremes
• Pain or soreness in areas of the jaw, gums, cheeks, teeth, or mouth
• Tired or tight jaw muscles, signs of TMJ, popping or clicking jaw joint, and more
• A headache originating at the temples that then spreads and intensifies into a migraine
• Sore spots and bleeding sores on your cheeks or gums caused by biting yourself
• Indentations on your tongue or cheeks you can’t explain or sores that won’t go away
• Waking yourself up suddenly from the pain of biting your lounge or cheek
• Seeing a worsening of sleep apnea symptoms or worsening snoring at night
• Waking up gasping for breath or feeling like you can’t open your mouth to breathe

Ways to Deal With Bruxism

Bruxism is most commonly seen in adults and there are many causes of teeth grinding that can be related to other underlying issues. Thankfully, there are some simple things that can be done to help reduce the severity of teeth grinding and reduce the symptoms. One option is the use of Botox. While known primarily as a tool for fighting wrinkles and the signs of aging, strategically placed shots of Botox in the jaw area can help regulate the nerves and reduce or even prevent teeth grinding at night by dulling the chewing reflex when we are asleep. Another easy way to reduce the effects of teeth grinding is to be fitted with dental prosthetics that you can wear at night. Most of these as simple devices you wear over your teeth at night, so they do not grind together. Alternately there are devices that will hold your jaw open slightly so you cannot bite down on your teeth. These are just two of several easy ways you can reduce the frequency and severity or bruxism, so talk to your dentist to learn more!

Closing Thoughts

Nearly one third of the population in the country today suffer from bruxism and it is a condition that can impact people of all ages. Most people will have minor and occasional instances of teeth grinding at least once in their lives which is not a major cause for concern. However, if it is causing problems such as migraines, TMJ, tooth pain, jaw stiffness, or other symptoms that affect quality of life then it may be time to see if you are suffering from severe bruxism. Getting help as soon as possible if you suspect you are grinding your teeth will help you protect your teeth from further damage and will also help you avoid other side effects that can affect your quality of life!