Are You Grinding Your Teeth? Here’s Why You Need to Stop

Waking up with a sore jaw, painful teeth, or a headache?
You could be grinding your teeth at night

Teeth grinding is something that we don’t all know about, but that many of us struggle with. But because the grinding tends to happen at night, we’re not aware of our active jaws and our gnashing teeth. Some patients learn that they’re grinding from their family members or spouses, who can actually hear them clenching at night. Don’t wait and allow your teeth to suffer the damage – schedule an exam so that Dr. Barton can check for signs of grinding and offer treatment.

Signs of Bruxism

Bruxism is chronic teeth grinding, and it affects countless adults. It is most often triggered by stress, which can kick off a harmful cycle – the more stressed you become, the more you grind, and the more you grind, the more stressed you feel! That’s not good for your mood, and it’s even worse for your teeth. Long-term grinding can lead to worn enamel, receding gums, broken dental work, and even jaw disorders.

We want to help you break free from this problem. It’s fairly simple to diagnose grinding, because the tooth enamel becomes worn on the occlusal surface, where your upper and lower teeth meet. Once we’re certain that’s the issue, your treatment might involve:

• Night guard – Mouth guards fit over your upper or lower teeth to protect the enamel. Some guard also immobilize the lower jaw to prevent grinding from taking place.
• Change in lifestyle – If you struggle to fall asleep or sleep well. grinding can become more of a problem. By taking steps like lowering your caffeine intake and relaxing before bed, you can lower your chances of bruxing.
• Stress reduction / meditation – Stress is a terrible thing! By finding ways to lower your stress levels, you gain happiness and peace of mind.

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