Do you wake up with persistent jaw pain or headaches? Have you noticed that some of your teeth may be more worn down than others? If so, you could have a common dental condition called bruxism. Bruxism is the grinding and clenching of teeth that can occur unconsciously during the day or while you sleep. Bruxism is often very difficult to control and the symptoms can have a negative effect on quality of life. Fortunately, there are several different methods for treating bruxism to protect your teeth and control your symptoms. At Smyrna Dental in Smyrna, GA, Dr. Lamothe and the team are experienced at treating Bruxism.
People grind or clench their teeth for several different reasons. One of the biggest causes is an abnormal bite or crooked teeth. It may also occur as a side effect of stress or sleep apnea. Other contributors to teeth grinding include:
Bruxism can have a seriously negative impact on your health, including loss of enamel, tooth fractures, receding gums and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD has been linked to a host of side effects including chronic headaches and jaw pain.
Many individuals with these symptoms discover that their teeth grinding occurs primarily at night, when they don’t even know it’s occurring. To help with this, we may recommend oral appliance therapy with a custom occlusal guard. Night guards are comfortable appliances that fit snugly over the teeth while you sleep. The night guards help reduce the tension in your head and neck muscles to alleviate symptoms.
If you think your jaw pain and headaches could be as a result of bruxism, call Smyrna Dental today at (678) 374-3764 to book an evaluation. We’re here to protect your smile from the damage that can occur as a result of persistent grinding. The sooner you seek treatment, the more you can protect your teeth, reduce symptoms, and improve your quality of life.
Sleep apnea is a condition that can have severe consequences for your health if left…
Do you wake up with headaches and aching jaws? Or perhaps you have noticed popping…
Did you know that your headaches may be caused by things that are happening in…
Headaches can be caused by many factors, including stress, alcohol overuse, sleep loss, skipped meals,…
If you’re waking up with jaw pain and headaches each day, a trip to a…
If you have chronic, unexplained headaches, jaw, and neck pain, you could be suffering from…