Grinding Bruxism To A Halt

GRINDING OR CLENCHING YOUR teeth is a pretty normal thing to do when you’re annoyed or stressed, and that’s nothing to worry about. However, if you grind your teeth on a more regular basis, whether asleep or awake, it can become a serious problem. This kind of chronic teeth-grinding is known as bruxism.

Why Does Bruxism Happen?

Sleep bruxism, also called nocturnal bruxism, is sometimes the side-effect of sleep apnea or snoring, while awake bruxism (diurnal bruxism) can be a side-effect of stress. However, not everyone with bruxism is dealing with a sleep disorder or stress, and everyone with a sleep disorder or a lot of stress in their lives will have bruxism. Improperly aligned teeth can also cause bruxism.Bruxism Symptoms

Treatment for bruxism can sometimes be tricky because there isn’t a single clear cause, so the focus tends to be on reducing symptoms and minimizing the damage. You might not be consciously aware of a teeth-grinding habit, but if you experience at least some of the following symptoms, it could be because of bruxism:

• Sore jaw (with sleep bruxism, your jaw will be most sore in the morning, whereas with awake bruxism, it’ll be most sore in the evening)
• Frequent headaches from the constant strain
• Overdeveloped jaw muscles (because you’re giving them a major workout!)
• Shifting teeth
• Flattened chewing surfaces of teeth
• Exposed dentin and increased tooth sensitivity
• Chipped, cracked, or split teeth
• Tooth loss

Bruxism Treatment

There are a variety of treatments or approaches to either reduce the grinding or the damage it causes, depending on the type of bruxism you have.

Behavioral Therapy

You can become more aware of your clenching/grinding habits with behavioral therapy or habit-reversal techniques and consciously work to stop. Because it’s much harder to control what your jaw muscles do in your sleep, this option tends to work better for awake bruxism.

Relaxation

Relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing exercises, massages, warm baths, calming music, and a full night’s sleep can help you de-stress and stop grinding if your bruxism is stress-related.

Prescribed Medication

Medicine is rarely used to treat bruxism, especially if other treatments are helping, but muscle relaxant medication prescribed by your doctor might help you unclench while you sleep.

We Can Help You Stop The Grind!

Schedule an appointment with us if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms. It may be due to bruxism, and we can make a plan for how to address it. You don’t want to leave it untreated until it gets to the point where it’s damaging your teeth.

Help us help you keep your teeth healthy!

We can’t wait to see you soon! Call us today to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION 480-812-9100.

Dr. Scott Day is the owner and CEO of Oasis Orthodontics located in Gilbert, Arizona. Dr. Day attended Brigham Young University, where he completed his pre-dental requirements majoring in Biology. He then attended Oregon Health Sciences University, where he received his DMD with high honors, graduating first in his class. After serving our country as a general dentist in Europe for three years, Dr. Day returned to school at the University of Louisville, where he earned his Master’s of Oral Biology and his certificate of orthodontics. He then served as Chief of Orthodontics at the Army Hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas, working on soldiers with difficult surgical orthodontic needs. While in Texas, Dr. Day also worked on his own time at a civilian orthodontic practice once a week and on the cleft lip and palate team at the Border Children’s Health Clinic. Dr. Day and his wife Allison have four wonderful children: Tyler, Anne, Elizabeth and Tanner.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.