Do you frequently suffer from jaw discomfort and headaches? Are your teeth sensitive? You may be suffering from “bruxism”. The term “bruxism” refers to the habit of repeatedly clenching and grinding your teeth, which can lead to cracked teeth, headaches, sensitivity, jaw pain, and stress fractures in your teeth.
Bruxism is extremely common and can stem from many sources. Diet and exercise can contribute to bruxism, and is so common among those suffering from alcoholism that past cultures would describe that alcoholics could be identified by “the gnashing of teeth, both awake and asleep”. Pain in your mouth can also lead you to clench your teeth and grind them together.
Many people suffering from bruxism say that they don’t realize that they are grinding or clenching because the behavior occurs when they sleep. Sleep position and inconsistent sleep habits can contribute to bruxism. Your sleeping posture may make acid reflux worse, and it is common for your body to clench your teeth in response to the acid that is being regurgitated into your throat.
Bruxism can result from allergies as well. When you swallow the drainage from postnasal drip, most of us have a tendency to clench the jaw. This can happen during the day or at night while you’re sleeping. Decongestants and antihistamines may be beneficial, but they may also make you more likely to clench or grind your teeth, creating a cycle that makes it challenging to address your bruxism.
In many cases, people don’t realize they’re clenching their teeth until they have additional symptoms. Have your dentist check your teeth if you experience headaches, jaw pain, or tooth sensitivity to establish whether or not your symptoms are caused by bruxism. Your dentist can detect stress fractures in your teeth, which are the telltale signs of bruxism.
Diet changes and a consistent sleep schedule can do a lot to ease the severity of your bruxism. For many patients, however, these measures do not address nighttime clenching and grinding. If you have acid reflux or allergies, you may find it difficult to address overnight clenching. The most effective way to reduce damage and treat symptoms is often the use of a mouthguard that you can wear while you sleep. Mouthguards can disrupt the clenching and grinding and prevent the problems associated with bruxism. Even if you continue to grind your teeth, your mouthguard protects your teeth and reduces the chances that you will crack or break a tooth.
Avoid damage to your teeth and ask your dentist to check your teeth for stress cracks during your regular cleanings. Even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you could be clenching when you sleep and causing damage to your teeth. If you are experiencing symptoms, talk with your dentist about what you are feeling so that you and your dentist can discuss the treatment.
If you think your teeth sensitivity could be caused by other issues, you can learn more about the causes of Tooth Sensitivity in our blog article about the topic.
How We Can Help
If you are suffering with jaw pain, teeth sensitivity, headaches, or any of the other symptoms we have mentioned, Downtown Dental in Charlottesville can help! Our dentists can look for signs of bruxism and provide a treatment plan to resolve your symptoms and discomfort. Feel free to call us to set up an appointment to determine what treatment is right for you. We’re here to help! 434-971-7400