Grinding Your Teeth Causes Painful Problems

We know that bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a serious issue that most people are completely unaware of. Bruxism is clenching or grinding your teeth and most people are not even aware that they are doing this. The professionals at Colgate reported that, “in the United States, bruxism affects about 30 million to 40 million children and adults. Some people grind their teeth only during sleep, which is called “nocturnal bruxism” or “sleep-related bruxism.” Others grind or clench their teeth during the daytime as well. This is thought to be related to stress or anxiety.” During extremely stressful situations, you may clench your jaw or grind your teeth without even knowing it.

People with severe bruxism can break dental fillings or damage their teeth. Rubbing the teeth together can cause the outer layers of enamel to wear away, exposing dentin. This can result in tooth sensitivity. Colgate mentions that severe bruxism also has been blamed for:

• Some cases of jaw dysfunction, also called temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
• Headaches when you wake up in the morning
• Unexplained facial pain

You may be a bruxer if you experience any of the following:

• Rhythmic contractions of the jaw muscles
• A grinding sound at night, which may disturb the sleep of someone who shares a bedroom with you
• A dull morning headache
• Jaw muscles that are tight or painful – This can make it uncomfortable, even painful, to open your mouth wide, especially in the morning
• Damaged teeth, broken dental fillings and injured gums

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or believe you clench your jaw or grind your teeth on a daily basis, contact us at 321.724.1400 and schedule an appointment at Artistic Touch Dentistry today.