Many people are affected by the issue of grinding teeth problem while sleeping and perhaps ignore the condition as inconsequential. However, if you have a similar situation, do not consider it minor because you could be affected by bruxism, an issue that causes you to grind, clench, and gnash your teeth. Bruxism can also make you clench your teeth unconsciously when awake or grinding and clench them when sleeping. The medical fraternity considers sleep bruxism a sleep-related movement disorder because people affected by this issue will likely have other sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea. In addition, while mild bruxism doesn’t require treatment if your condition is severe and frequent, you may develop jaw disorders, damaged teeth, headaches, et cetera. You may have sleep bruxism without knowing it until you develop complications. Therefore knowing the signs and symptoms of bruxism helps you seek regular dental care.

What Are the Symptoms of Bruxism?

The signs and symptoms of bruxism are different and begin with teeth grinding and clenching loudly to wake up your bed partner. You may have flattened, fractured, chipped, or loose teeth or worn enamel displaying deeper layers of the tooth merely by sleeping. You also suffer from sleep disruption and damage to your cheeks by chewing them on the insides. Increased tooth pain or sensitivity will also affect you besides dull headaches starting in the temples.

When the Contract Your Doctor?

Suppose you develop any signs listed above or have concerns with your teeth and jaws, organize an appointment with your doctor or dentist to define whether you are impacted by bruxism. Bruxism is not a problem reserved exclusively for adults, and children can also develop it. If you notice your children grinding their teeth or having other symptoms of this condition, do not forget to mention it during your next dental appointment.

What Causes Bruxism?

The exact causes of bruxism aren’t understood by the medical fraternity, who consider it a combination of physical, genetic, or psychological factors. Awake bruxism can result from emotions like stress, anxiety, anger, frustration, or tension. Alternatively, awake bruxism could be a coping strategy during deep concentration. Sleep bruxism could be a sleep-related chewing activity linked with arousals when sleeping. The risk factors of bruxism include stress, age, medications and substances, family history of bruxism, and mental health and medical disorders. While bruxism doesn’t cause severe complications, the condition can damage your teeth, including restorations like crowns or jaw, and make you susceptible to tension-type headaches. In addition, you may have severe pain in your face and jaw muscles and TMJ disorders.

Diagnosing Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Your dentist checks your teeth for signs of bruxism during regular dental exams. If they observe any symptoms, they look for changes in your teeth and mouth over the several subsequent visits to evaluate whether it is progressive. If the bruxism appears as a sleep-related disorder, your dentist may recommend you undergo tests from a sleep medicine specialist to determine whether you have sleep apnea.

Treatment for Teeth Grinding and Clenching

In most cases, teeth grinding and clenching treatment may not be required. Children outgrow the condition without treatment, and many adults don’t have a severe problem requiring treatment. Unfortunately, if you are affected by a severe condition, dental approaches can help you relieve the discomfort. If you or your child has bruxism, your dentist may recommend techniques to preserve and improve your teeth. However, the methods suggested prevent or correct the wear to your teeth but may not help overcome bruxism. Splints and mouthguards in Markham, ON, are created to keep your teeth separated and avoid damage caused by grinding and clenching. The mouthguards are fabricated using hard acrylic or soft materials to fit your upper and lower teeth. In severe cases where the condition has led to sensitivity, making it challenging for you to chew correctly, your dentist may decide to reshape the chewing surfaces or use dental crowns to repair the damage. Mouthguards for teeth grinding are recommended by many dentists to their patients who reported problems with bruxism. Unfortunately, the condition is pretty common in Canada and the world and causes damage to your teeth, requiring expensive treatments. If you think you are affected by bruxism, please do not consider purchasing an over-the-counter mouthguard for sleeping because it is unlikely to relieve the problem. Instead, contact your dentist to have a mouthguard created explicitly for your mouth to provide maximum relief from teeth grinding and clenching to enjoy better dental health. If you need excellent advice on the problem of bruxism, we recommend you schedule an appointment with 14th Avenue Dentistry to evaluate yourself and receive a custom-made mouthguard for bruxism.