Teeth grinding is also called bruxism. It is something that typically affects people while they’re sleeping. It can be brought about by stress. Over time, teeth grinding can be very bad for your teeth and jaw. It can cause your teeth to wear down or begin chipping. Your jaw will also become strained. This can lead to headaches and pain in your facial muscles.
Diagnosing Teeth Grinding
Here at Harmony Dental Care in Oshawa, ON, we want to be able to help you with your teeth grinding problem, and that starts with making sure that teeth grinding is actually the problem. Most people are unaware that they’re doing this in their sleep. Symptoms can include having tooth pain in the morning or having worn down tooth. You might also ask people that you sleep near if they have heard you grind your teeth in your sleep.
Treatment for Teeth Grinding
In order to best protect your teeth and jaw, Harmony Dental Care can outfit you with a night guard. A night guard is sort of like a mouthguard that you use in sports, but it is crafted to be worn at night while you’re sleeping in order to prevent tooth damage. In order to make your night guard, we will have to make an impression of your teeth and send it to a lab to have a custom guard created. You’ll return to our clinic to receive the guard and make sure it fits properly.
Breaking the Habit
Not only will Harmony Dental Care provide you with a night guard, but we will offer you advice on how to best beat the habit of grinding your teeth during your sleep. This starts with trying to pinpoint why you are so stressed and working to relieve some of that. This can include deep breathing techniques, relaxing massages, yoga, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
You should make sure not to clench your jaw during the day as well, and don’t bite down on anything other than food. If you notice that you’re grinding your teeth during the day, stop and think about what could be making you do this.
Dental Checkups
It’s important to have regular dental checkups, especially if you grind your teeth. We will make sure there are no problems, such as misalignments and cracks, and offer treatments that can stop future problems from occurring. You don’t want to ignore the condition because it can lead to loose teeth or even cause them to fall out.