Has your dentist ever recommended you wear a night guard? Night guards are an effective tool to protect your teeth from the possible damage that grinding can cause. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a common complaint that dentists hear. It most commonly occurs while sleeping. If you’re not sure if you are grinding your teeth or not here are a few symptoms to look for.
Bruxism Symptoms:
- Waking up with headaches
- Jaw soreness or tightness
- Teeth that are painful or almost feel bruised
- Fractured and/or chipped teeth
If you find yourself suffering from any of these symptoms be sure to bring it up to your dentist at your next appointment. The most common reason for grinding teeth in adults is stress and or anxiety. Another common reason is crooked teeth. When your teeth and/or jaw is misaligned your jaw can have a tendency to move around a lot (grind) to find a comfortable resting place. Children can also grind their teeth. Although with children they are more likely to be grinding their teeth during the time that permanent teeth are erupting. This is due to the fact that everything feels different and their jaw is trying to find the new normal for them. Most children will grow out of this phase.
No matter the reason for grinding your teeth it is important to address the condition with your dentist. If grinding persists for a prolonged period, especially in adults, it can cause serious damage. The most common damage that happens is the wearing down of your teeth, this can cause sensitivity. Without intervention it is possible to wear/grind your teeth down past the protective enamel and into deeper tooth structure.
