Do you find yourself waking up in the morning with a sore jaw or headache? Do you have stiffness in your jaw or sensitive, damaged teeth? You may be suffering from Bruxism. This post will cover the main Bruxism symptoms and how to manage these.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the grinding and clenching of teeth. It can cause the teeth to become sore or loose, damage the surrounding bone or gum tissue, and in severe cases the teeth can eventually be ground away. Bruxism is commonly related to stress or anxiety, and often occurs whilst the person is asleep or concentrating under stress. It can lead to problems with the jaw joint, such as temporomandibular joint syndrome.
Symptoms:
Most people who experience bruxism may not be aware that they are grinding their teeth until someone, usually a dentist, points it out. However, if you experience Bruxism, you may have some, or all, of the following symptoms:
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Earaches
- Tiredness and disrupted sleep
- Pain and stiffness in the jaw joint
- Worn down teeth
- Broken, cracked or crookedteeth or fillings (in severe cases)
If you have any of the above symptoms or your partner notices that you are grinding your teeth in your sleep, make an appointment with your dentist. They can make an accurate diagnosis and determine whether Bruxism is the source of your symptoms.
What causes Bruxism?
Teeth grinding is most often caused by stress or anxiety. It can also sometimes be a side effect of taking certain types of medication, such as an antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Teeth grinding can also be linked to sleep disorders such as Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing.
Which type of treatment is most effective for bruxism?
Splint therapy
Occlusal splints have been considered as the first-line strategy for preventing dental grinding noise and tooth wear in primary sleep bruxis
Get more information’s about the bruxism book you appointment