SYMPTOMS OF CLENCHING AND GRINDING

in Bend Oregon

About 10 percent of adults and 15 percent of children clench or grind their teeth at night in the U.S, according to the American Sleep Association. This equates to about 30 million people with this problem, which dentists call “bruxism.” Long-term bruxism can cause serious problems with your teeth. You may be damaging your oral health without even realizing it! Luckily, the professionals at Contemporary Family Dentistry can assess you for jaw clenching symptoms of teeth clenching and grinding treatment, and come up with a clenching teeth solution before it’s too late.

SYMPTOMS AND EFFECTS OF BRUXISIM

in Bend Oregon

While you can clench and grind your teeth during the day, bruxism happens most often while you sleep. Because of this, it can be difficult to realize you have this condition – often until it’s already caused damage to your teeth or health. Knowing what to look for can help you catch bruxism early, and take steps to prevent tooth damage. Visiting your dentist regularly can also help, as he or she will be able to notice symptoms. Symptoms may include:

 

  • Waking up with headache or jaw pain
  • Waking up with toothaches, earaches, or sore muscles in the face
  • Waking up with a stiff, clenched jaw
  • Excessive wear on your teeth
  • Cracks or fractures in the teeth or enamel
  • Loose teeth or loss of teeth
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Raised cheek tissues from biting
  • Grinding noises at night

teeth clenching and grinding

Chronic bruxism can be very bad for your teeth and overall health. It can lead to very painful and costly dental problems. Leaving bruxism untreated can lead to wearing your teeth down to stumps, exposing sensitive nerves, eroding the gums and supporting bones, breaking fillings, damaging the enamel, cracking teeth, creating abfractions (pictured above), and even losing teeth. It also puts a strain on the jaw joint, possibly causing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and muscle tension in the face, head, and shoulders. In children, bruxism typically doesn’t cause damage. It can, however, interrupt sleep and lead to pain or stiffness in the face. See more details here.

TREATING BRUXISM

Nobody fully understands why bruxism happens, but there may be a link to stress. You may notice yourself clenching your jaw and or grinding teeth during the day in stressful situations and symptoms might start appearing. Emotional stress, mental concentration, physical efforts, malnutrition, dehydration, and incorrect tooth alignment may all contribute to bruxism. In children, bruxism can be a response to losing and getting teeth, jaw growth, allergies, ear infections, malocclusion, or airway obstructions. As soon as you notice symptoms of teeth clenching and grinding, come to Contemporary Family Dentistry. Contact Us.

 

We will perform an exam of your mouth and help diagnose this condition as early as possible. Visiting us regularly can help us detect early signs of bruxism before it causes major damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw in which clenching might draw some symptoms. We can notice irregular wear on teeth, and help you diagnose the cause of facial or jaw pain. We have the best clenching teeth solution. If you do have bruxism, we have a few potential solutions. If you grind your teeth when stressed, stress-relief treatments like therapies may help you break the habit. Speak to a physical therapist or bruxism specialist.

 

On top of stress relief, one or more dental treatments can help. One solution is a custom-made mouthguard to wear while you sleep. It will fit your teeth comfortably and securely, on the upper or lower teeth. A guard will prevent your molars from grinding against one another and causing damage while you sleep. A custom night guard is easy to create and can save you thousands of dollars in dental damage, as well as significant pain. For daytime bruxism, a small appliance that fits over the front teeth may also help. Our knowledgeable team can help you catch bruxism and stop it in its tracks before you face irreparable dental damage.