Do you wake up with a sore jaw more often than not? Do your teeth feel more worn-down than they should? Does your partner report a strange noise coming from your side of the bed at night? If so, you might be grinding your teeth at night, a condition known as bruxism. Left untreated, bruxism can lead to a whole host of dangerous oral health problems. Luckily, our dentists here at Dentistry of Wisconsin can treat the issue with a customized nightguard, a plastic appliance that provides cushioning between your top and bottom teeth. Keep reading below to learn more about bruxism and how we can protect your teeth from harm.
Why Do I Grind My Teeth?
The leading causes of teeth grinding and jaw clenching are stress and anxiety. While bruxism is more common in adults, children are also susceptible to this condition, especially if they suffer from an anxiety disorder.
Other factors that can contribute to bruxism include excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, untreated sleep apnea, and an abnormal bite as a result of misaligned or missing teeth. In the case of bite alignment issues, grinding your teeth while sleeping may be an unconscious effort to make your teeth line up properly.
Symptoms of Bruxism
Because bruxism typically occurs at night, most sufferers are unaware they even have the condition. Most of the time, it’s their bed partner who alerts them to the fact that they’re making a disturbing noise in their sleep. Some other symptoms of teeth grinding to watch out for include:
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Waking up with a sore jaw
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Fatigue in your facial muscles
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Stress headaches around your temples
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Sensitive teeth
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Worn-down, broken, or otherwise damaged teeth
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Pain in your ear
When you consistently grind your teeth, it can lead to issues with your temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are the joints just under each of your ears that allow your jaw to open, close, and move side to side. People with TMJ dysfunction often complain of a sore jaw, a locked jaw, or a popping or clicking noise when they try to open or close their mouth.
How We Can Treat Bruxism
Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer through the consequences of having bruxism any longer. At Dentistry of Wisconsin, we can create an appliance called a nightguard. A nightguard is a comfortable acrylic tray worn over your teeth that prevents your top and bottom arches from making harmful contact while you’re sleeping. We simply take an impression of your unique bite and within a few weeks, your nightguard will be ready, allowing you to sleep soundly once again.
You may have noticed cheap nightguards at your local drugstore or grocery store. With these nightguards, you just heat them up and bite into them, forming them into the shape of your teeth. However, when it comes to dental care, you get what you pay for. Store-bought nightguards won’t provide as snug a fit as the custom-made ones from our office, so they won’t be quite as comfortable. They also won’t provide as much protection from grinding. You’re much better off investing in a quality nightguard made by us.
