Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching in Bowmanville, is a condition that is often subconscious and is frequently nocturnal. Untreated bruxism can cause significant dental problems or even tooth loss.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition in which people grind or clench their teeth, often during the daytime but more often at night. People with bruxism may be unaware they have this issue because it occurs during sleep.
It can be linked to other sleep disorders like sleep apnea or to issues affecting the jaw joints. These joints are called temporomandibular joints, and problems affecting them are known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Signs of Bruxism
Signs can include waking up with a sore, aching jaw and teeth. If you look at your teeth, they may look chipped, worn, and shorter than before. The biting or incisal edges may appear chipped or translucent where they are worn away.
The pressure created when you clench and grind can affect your temporomandibular joints. TMJ can cause other symptoms, including chronic headaches and facial pain, tinnitus, and pain that extends into the neck and shoulders.
If you think you may have bruxism, it’s essential to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Untreated bruxism can cause significant damage to your teeth and jaw joints.
How Is Bruxism Diagnosed?
When you visit West Bowmanville Family Dental, a dental exam can soon identify if you have signs of bruxism. Our dentist will check for signs of excess wear and tear on your teeth.
We also ask about other symptoms you may be experiencing, and that could indicate this condition. During your dental exam, we may assess how well you can move your jaw joints by asking you to open and close your mouth and bite your teeth together to check your occlusion.
Diagnostic imaging may be needed, including digital X-rays and, if indicated, a cone beam CT scan. These images help us assess the damage to your teeth more clearly and check for any bone loss around your teeth that can occur from clenching and grinding. We can also check the condition of your jaw joints for any signs of inflammation or pain.
If we diagnose bruxism and think it may be linked to sleep apnea in Newcastle, we may recommend a sleep study. This is when your sleep is monitored in a clinic, and it is an entirely painless process.
Treating Bruxism
Treatment may depend on the symptoms you experience and whether it is linked to a sleep disorder. We may recommend seeing other medical professionals, combining our experience and training to provide the best outcomes.
Possible options can include:
- A custom-made night guard or night splint, which protects your teeth and prevents you from clenching and grinding.
- A custom-made oral appliance to treat sleep apnea can also protect your teeth, placing your jawbone in a more relaxed and forward position.
- Behavioural therapy techniques to help you relax your jaw muscles during the day.
- Biofeedback
- Physiotherapy
There may be other things you can do at home to help break the habit of bruxism. These may include better sleep hygiene, such as following a routine to help you relax before sleep and avoid screen use.
Avoiding caffeine or alcohol may also be helpful. If you have high stress levels, taking positive steps to reduce them could help alleviate bruxism in Clarington. Even something as simple as staying well hydrated and following a balanced diet could be helpful.
Some people find it straightforward to break the habit of clenching and grinding their teeth in Courtice, and may only need to wear a nightguard or take other precautions for a short while. Others might need longer to treat bruxism successfully.