The act of clenching or grinding teeth is common. When it happens frequently, it can become a problem not only for you but for your loved ones. Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding often occurs involuntarily during sleep. If you have a spouse in bed next to you that is grinding his or her teeth, you may be searching for solutions.
Those who suffer from teeth grinding are often not aware of their condition since it mostly happens during sleep. If you are sleeping next to someone, though, they can usually hear the grinding and alert you. These sounds can be quite disruptive to sleep.
Bruxism has many causes. It is commonly triggered by stress, missing teeth or a misaligned bite. If you grind your teeth during the day, stress and anxiety are the main culprits, while during sleep it is almost always due to problems in the bite.
Sometimes, teeth grinding is caused by a sleep condition called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). The airway narrows during sleep, triggering a stress response that prompts the jaw to jut forward as a reflexive response to the change in air intake. The reflex of pushing the jaw forward allows air to flow freely, but an unfortunate side effect is teeth grinding.
If you wake up with a sore jaw, headache or any tooth tenderness, you may be suffering from sleep bruxism. Other signs include:
The frequent gnashing and grinding of teeth can eventually cause problems to your oral health if left unchecked. The constant wear can grind teeth down to the nerve, causing sharp pains. Grinding can also reshape the teeth unfavorably. In advanced cases, bruxism will cause tooth fracture and, ultimately, tooth loss.
After a full analysis of your bite, your dentist will recommend the use of an oral apparatus that holds the jaw in place while sleeping to allow free airflow and put a barrier between teeth. Mouthguards can be a useful, if temporary, solution, that merely protect your teeth from making contact with one another.
Keep in mind that dental appliances designed for grinding only treat the symptoms, not the cause of teeth grinding. Talk to your dentist to find out more permanent solutions.
Your dentist will examine the mouth and jaw to spot any telltale signs of teeth grinding. Teeth abnormalities, jaw tenderness and nerve sensitivity on otherwise healthy teeth can all point toward bruxism. Your dentist can recommend an oral appliance that fits your spouse’s needs and stops the effects of teeth grinding. This way, you can finally get some rest.
Request an appointment here: https://clarisseatakhaniandds.com or call Clarisse Atakhanian DDS Inc. at (818) 483-9071 for an appointment in our Glendale office.
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