Bruxism affects a surprisingly large number of adult dental patients. Unfortunately, many of these people live for years with the problems of bruxism, because they are not aware that there are simple and effective treatments available for this issue.
In our Toluca Lake dental office, we encourage patients to seek prompt treatment for bruxism. Timely treatment greatly reduces the patient’s likelihood of suffering from long-term complications of this condition.
So, first of all, please reach out to your dentist if you are experiencing any of these common symptoms of bruxism:
· Noticeable dental grinding or clenching of your teeth during the day
· Sore jaw, especially upon waking
· Sore molars, especially upon waking
· Increased TMJ dysfunction
· Chronic headaches, you may wake up with a headache
You may have noticed that some of these symptoms are most noticeable in the morning. This is because bruxism can manifest at night, while you are asleep. If this is the case for you, you may notice jaw/face/neck pain in the morning. Additionally, your sleeping partner may report that they can actually hear you grinding your teeth at night—definitely let your dentist know if this happens!
In order to treat bruxism, our dental team first aims to identify the root cause of the dental grinding and clenching. If, for example, you grind your teeth when you are stressed, we may recommend some stress-reduction techniques for your day to day life. If your bruxism is the result of a poorly aligned bite surface, we may refine your bite using orthodontic treatment, dental bonding, and/or enamel shaping. We can also outfit you with a customized oral appliance that will reduce your symptoms and protect your enamel from tooth-on-tooth contact.
Give us a call if you think that you may be dealing with bruxism—our Toluca Lake dentists are here to help you!