The condition of bruxism causes you to grind, clench and gnash your teeth. If touched by bruxism, you unintentionally clench your teeth when awake (awake bruxism) or clench and grind them when sleeping (sleep bruxism).
Sleep bruxism is identified as a sleep-related movement disorder. People who grind their teeth when sleeping are likely to have other sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea. Treatment is not necessary for mild bruxism. However, if the problem is frequent and severe, leading to jaw disorders, damaged teeth, and headaches, you must seek treatment for the pain from the dentist near you providing customized nightguards. If you are affected by sleep bruxism, you will be unaware of it until complications develop. Therefore it is essential to know the signs of bruxism and seek treatment from a dental provider.
The medical fraternity doesn’t entirely understand the causes of bruxism because a combination of factors, including physical, psychological, and genetic, can cause the problem.
Awake bruxism is a result of emotions like anxiety, stress, anger, frustration, or tension. It is also a coping strategy or habit when concentrating intensely.
Sleep bruxism is a sleep-related chewing activity associated with arousals when sleeping.
The indicators and symptoms of bruxism might include:
Besides the above, you may well have tried and tight jaw muscles or a locked door that doesn’t open or close entirely. You may experience dull headaches starting in the temples besides sleep disruption and damage from chewing on the insides of your cheeks.
If you experience any of the symptoms listed or any other concerns about your teeth and jaw, you must visit the dentist in Spring to evaluate the condition. In addition, if you observe your children clenching or grinding their teeth, don’t forget to mention it during your child’s next dental appointment.
The following factors can increase your risks of bruxism:
Bruxism doesn’t cause severe complications, but advanced conditions can lead to TMJ disorders, damage your teeth, jaw, restorations, and crowns, and tension-type headaches.
During routine dental exams, the dentist spring, TX, checks for signs of bruxism. If the dentist observes any indications, they look for changes in your teeth and mouth over the subsequent few visits to determine whether the condition is progressive to suggest a remedy for you.
The dentist checks for tenderness in your jaw muscles to evaluate the extent of bruxism besides looking at apparent dental abnormalities like broken or missing teeth. They take x-rays to determine damages to the underlying bone and the inside of your cheeks.
If your bruxism appears as a sleep-related disorder, you receive a referral to a sleep medicine specialist for more tests to determine whether you have sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.
Treatment for bruxism is not required in many cases because children usually outgrow the problem without treatment. In addition, many adults don’t clench or grind their teeth badly to require treatment. However, if the issue is severe, dentists recommend a nightguard to prevent more damage and relieve your pain and discomfort.
Splints and night guards customized to keep your teeth separated help avoid the damage caused by teeth grinding and clenching. Hard acrylic or soft materials help make the night guards fitting over your upper and lower teeth.
In severe cases, you may need dental correction if tooth wear leads to sensitivity or the inability to chew correctly. Your dentist may reshape the chewing surfaces of your teeth or recommend dental crowns to repair the damage.
Bruxism is not a life-threatening issue but is a problem that is treated using different medical approaches. However, if you discuss the problem with your dentist, they will likely recommend wearing a nightguard when sleeping to avoid damages to your teeth. Set an appointment with Spring Creek Dentist.