Do you ever wake up in the morning with a headache or sore jaw muscles? If so, you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep. This is a condition known as bruxism and it can cause a lot of damage to the health of your teeth and gums. Another warning sign of bruxism is if you notice your teeth being extremely sensitive to hot or cold foods and drinks.
Bruxism typically presents itself in two forms: Sleep Bruxism and Awake Bruxism.
As you can probably guess, sleep bruxism occurs in the middle of the night while you are asleep. If you grind your teeth in the night, you will wake up with a headache and sore jaw, but symptoms will go away throughout the day. This form of bruxism is much more common than the other type.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, awake bruxism occurs unknowingly while you are going through your day. If you suffer from awake bruxism, you will not wake up with any symptoms, but will notice symptoms starting to present themselves as the day goes on.
Unfortunately, no matter which type of bruxism you suffer from, it is doing damage to your oral health. While you are grinding your teeth, you are actually physically wearing away your tooth enamel and exposing the inner part of your teeth. After your tooth enamel is worn down, you will become more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease!
Below, Dr. Sachs offers some ways you can relieve your bruxism.
The best way to eliminate sleep bruxism is to visit the dentist and receive a night guard. A night guard will be custom made for you, and will fit over your top or bottom teeth. Wearing a night guard will protect your teeth and also relax your jaw muscles. When you visit the dentist, they will likely do a thorough exam to determine what exactly is causing your problem. This will help them customize a treatment plan to meet your needs.
If you consume a lot of alcohol or caffeine, you may be more prone to grinding your teeth. While there is no scientific proof of this, many doctors believe that these substances can lead people to grind their teeth. If you cut back on your consumption, you may start to grind your teeth less.
Stress is another leading cause of bruxism. Roughly 70% of people who grind their teeth do so due to stress. Dr. Sachs recommends finding some activities to help you reduce your stress levels. These activities may include yoga, listening to relaxing music, meditation, or receiving a massage!
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Dr. Sachs and her team are always welcoming new smiling faces to their office. If you are in need of a dentist in the Rockford area, we welcome you to contact us today to schedule an appointment!