What is bruxism?
Bruxism is the chronic clenching and grinding of your teeth. Some patients do it throughout the day (awake bruxism), while others do it unconsciously at night (sleep bruxism).
Do I have bruxism?
Many patients of Jones Family Dental who have bruxism are not aware of it, either because they do it while sleeping or because they do it as an unconscious habit throughout the day. Some of the symptoms of bruxism that you or Dr. Jones might be able to notice include:
- Worn-down teeth that are flattened, fractured, loose, or chipped
- Damaged tooth enamel that exposes deeper layers of your tooth
- Pain or sensitivity in your teeth
- Soreness, tightness, or a “locking” jaw that doesn’t fully open or close
- Pain or soreness in your neck or face
- Damage to the inside of your cheeks
If you sleep with a partner, your partner might also be able to hear your grinding at night.
What causes bruxism?
Stress and anxiety typically cause bruxism, but there are some non-psychological factors that can increase the likelihood of developing bruxism, such as:
- Certain medications (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, and psychotropic drugs)
- Occlusal discrepancies, or misaligned bites
- Alcohol and tobacco consumption
Bruxism is also more common in young children, and instances of sleep bruxism tend to run in families.
Why do I need to treat my bruxism?
Many cases of bruxism are mild and don’t actually need treatment, but more severe cases of bruxism can lead to a variety of health complications if left untreated, such as:
- Inflamed or receding gums
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
- Tension headaches
- Chronic facial and jaw pain
- Eating disorders
- Depression and insomnia
Bruxism also exerts a lot of unnecessary force on your teeth, which can lead to abnormal wear, fractures, and broken teeth.
How do you treat bruxism?
The Jones Family Dental team recommends you wear a custom-fitted night guard that will keep your teeth separated from one another, effectively mitigating the damage that grinding and clenching can do to your smile.
The compassionate dental professionals at Jones Family Dental use a unique material for their night guards that enables them to alter the fit if you ever have any dental treatments that might slightly change the structure of your smile. This allows you to simply adjust your existing night guard rather than having to get a whole new device every time you have a procedure done on your teeth.
Stop clenching and grinding today. Schedule a bruxism appointment with the experts at Jones Family Dental by calling the office or booking a visit online.
