Do you ever wake up from sleep with sore jaws? There is a likelihood that you could be grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding, or bruxism does not only happen during sleep. You can also grind your teeth or clench your jaw when you are awake. While grinding your teeth once or twice has no adverse harm, perpetual grinding can damage your teeth and lead to oral health complications. Find the root cause of teeth grinding, and the best way to manage it by calling Lovett Dental Pearland at 281-416-5844.
What Are the Symptoms of Teeth Grinding?
Before we delve into the cause of teeth grinding, also called bruxism, let’s first understand the signs and symptoms to watch out for. This is because, for sleep bruxism, you can be unaware of it until complications arise. Signs and symptoms include:
- Loud teeth grinding or clenching
- Fractured, chipped, or loose teeth
- Worn tooth enamel exposing the softer layers of the tooth
- Increased sensitivity to temperature and sugar
- Face and neck soreness
- A tight or locked jaw that does not open or close entirely
Grinding teeth symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Mild bruxism may not need treatment. However, severe and frequent teeth grinding may lead to other complex issues, and in this case, dental care intervention is necessary.
What Is the Cause of Teeth Grinding?
There is not a complete understanding of the cause of teeth grinding, but it is closely linked to a combination of genetic, physical, and psychological factors. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that may cause teeth grinding:
Response to Pain
Some people clench and grind their teeth when they experience pain such as earache or teething, while others, especially kids, may grind because their teeth are misaligned. Kids may outgrow the common causes of grinding with time.
Stress and Anxiety
If you’re experiencing bruxism when you are awake, emotions such as stress, anger, frustration, or tension may cause it. During this state of emotional distress, some people grind their teeth as a way of coping. In addition, other people may have developed it as a habit during deep concentration.
Age
Teeth grinding is more common to children than it is to adults. With time, the grinding goes away as they transition to adulthood. If your child is grinding their teeth, check with their pediatric dentist about how you can help.
Side Effects From Medications
In some cases, teeth grinding may be caused by side effects of psychiatric medications such as ant-depressants. Smoking, drinking caffeinated drinks, and drug abuse can also be the cause of teeth grinding.
Genetics
Teeth grinding can be a hereditary trait, and one may acquire it from other family members who may have had a history of it.
Health Disorders
Teeth grinding is sometimes associated with mental health disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, night terrors, or sleep disorders.
What Are the Impacts of Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding may cause tooth fracture, headache, and muscle problems with jaws and joints. These effects may inhibit chewing or restrict the jaw’s range of motion.
When Can You Seek Treatment?
You can seek treatment whenever you identify the symptoms of teeth grinding. However, most patients seek treatment when the pain spreads to other areas or when your Pearland, Texas dentist notices some signs of wear on teeth. An early diagnosis will help you to prevent more damage to your teeth.
The treatment depends on the cause of teeth grinding. If it is due to stress and anxiety, your Pearland dentist will give you an exam and develop a proper treatment for you. Your dentist may recommend you to use oral appliances, such as a mouth guard, to reduce the sensation of grinding your teeth. They are also important in reducing pain and reducing tear and wear and preventing you from running into mouth problems. Muscle relaxation exercises recommended by your dentist are also a great way to ease anxiety and jaw stiffness.
Understand the Cause of Teeth Grinding by Visiting Lovett Dental
To stop teeth grinding, you need to have a specialized evaluation by your Lovett Dental dentist. Our dental services include:
- Dental implant options
- Teeth cleaning
- Pediatric dentistry
- Teeth whitening
- Orthodontics and oral appliances
Don’t let teeth grinding disrupt your sleep again! Contact Lovett Dental Pearland at our dental office at 281-416-5844 to book a consultation and learn more about the cause of teeth grinding and how to curb your habit.
