One of the most common - but also overlooked - dental problems is bruxism: that is, grinding your teeth at night. Since it happens while we're asleep, many people don't even realize they're grinding their teeth. Unfortunately, it can cause a range of dental issues, as well as other medical problems.
The Dangers of Bruxism
Technically, bruxism can occur when a person is awake or asleep, although it's more common at night. Essentially, the muscles around the jaw clench up, causing the teeth to grind against each other continuously for hours.
Obviously, this can cause serious damage to the teeth, wearing away enamel and leaving you more susceptible to cavities, chipped teeth, and other physical problems.
However, it can also:
Lead to jaw pain, or temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
Cause face, shoulder, or back pain
Create headaches or earaches
Contribute to insomnia
The Causes of Bruxism
Unfortunately, the exact causes are not known, and are likely to stem from a range of factors. Stress and anxiety are almost universally considered to be contributing factors, since they cause people to clench up in general. Additionally, stimulants such as caffeine (or harder drugs such as cocaine) can also lead to bruxism, especially when taken before bed.
Bruxism has also been linked to certain medicines, such as SSRI antidepressants.
Plus, other sleep problems such as snoring and sleep apnea are typically seen in conjunction with bruxism. Although, in that case, it's difficult to tell which triggers the other. They seem to reinforce each other.
Dealing with Bruxism
The best and most natural way to prevent or reduce teeth-grinding is to de-stress. Before any other intervention is recommended, most dentists will suggest lifestyle changes. For example, don't drink any products with caffeine within a few hours of going to bed. Breathing exercises, meditation, and similar stress-reducing activities are also a good idea.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Aleve can also help by loosening up the jaw muscles.
If these methods don't work, dentists have other alternatives. One common option is the use of mouth guards, similar to those used in contact sports, which prevent the teeth from coming into contact with each other. In very rare cases, surgery may be considered, especially if the patient suffers from related issues like severe sleep apnea.
In short, if you often wake up in the morning with your jaw or teeth hurting, or your teeth feel gritty, there's a good chance you suffer from bruxism. Contact your friendly local dentist, Plainsboro Dental Care – 609-799-4422, to look into it before the problem gets worse!